SummaryThe Adverse Childhood Experiences Study provides health care providers with important education that can change the course of one's life children. Unfortunately, this information is not routinely provided to primary care patients. Implementing his teachings would have a significant positive benefit for children today. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on 'Why violent video games should not be banned'?Get the original essayACE StudyThe Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study highlighted by the Children's Trust Fund analyzed for class is not alone in its conclusions. The connection between early childhood exposures, experiences, and trauma is found repeatedly in other studies yielding similar results. As providers, nurses and doctors, we must be keenly aware of these sad but true connections. The impact of an event, including daily living conditions, on the health, behavior and even death of an adult, linked to the results of risk factors, is significant (Felitti et al., 1998). As the ACE study shows, even small childhood experiences can shape our social behavior and even our physical health. Children raised in poor conditions; Violent families, repeated bullying, and stress have been proven to present more negative risk factors for their health as adults. The ACE study describes the real physiological impacts of what they call “toxic stress.” Children exposed to these negative situations and stressors release more cortisol based on the fight or flight response. Unfortunately, such a frequent chemical reaction, such as with repeated exposure, can lead to physical damage to the brain. Specifically, it has been found that the learning and memory areas of the brain are more affected by this overexposure. Having health care providers recognize situations that appear to be high in toxic stress may provide an opportunity for intervention. Interviewing children during emergency room or doctor's office visits without parents or guardians present may be the most effective way to accomplish this. The sooner we are able to recognize a child at risk for this real physical change in their brain, the better off they will be in the future. In fact, we may be able to save adult lives by properly interviewing pediatric patients and their parents and recognizing the signs of toxic stress. As we have seen time and time again in our workplaces and healthcare clinics; education is an extremely important element of prevention. There are many stereotypes about children that can negatively impact positive and protective factors. Some examples seen in the medical field include a lack of understanding regarding pain control in children. Just because they are unable to verbalize their needs and feelings does not mean they are not suffering or exhibiting other symptoms. According to the hypotheses made possible by the ACE study, this could potentially lead to future distrust, or even substance abuse, due to the fear of repeating this previous life experience. Another example could be health care providers not intervening, even though in some places it is required by law, when possible situations of abuse or poor living conditions are suspected. This directly prepares the child for results.