Aetiology and determinants of NDC

Question 1

Why is it important to identify cause?

Answer 1

• prevention
• family planning (inherited conditions)
• address parental anxiety, provide explanations
• early intervention for best outcome
• service planning
• research into prevention and treatment

Question 2

What are prenatal causes of NDDs? (before birth)

Answer 2

• Genetic
• toxin
• maternal metabolic
• infection

Question 3

What are perinatal causes? (between pregnancy and 1 year after giving birth)

Answer 3

• prematurity
• anoxia at bitch (clamping of umbilical cord)
• metabolic (e.g. phenylketonuria)
• infection (bacterial infections)

Question 4

What are postnatal causes? (after birth)

Answer 4

• infection (e.g. meningitis)
• TBI (e.g. shaken baby syndrome)
• environmental (e.g. persistent serious neglect and abuse)

Question 5

What does the medical investigation include?

Answer 5

• physical (dysmorphic features, head circumference, skin lesions)
• blood
• urine
• EEG
• brain imaging

Question 6

Neurodevelopmental can impact:

Answer 6

• gross and fine motor
• hearing, vision
• speech, language and communication
• cognitive and adaptive functioning
• emotional, behavioural and social functioning
• sensory functioning