Causes of Developmental Problems ✅ Flashcards
Why is early identification of children with severe or complex needs required?
To ensure that early intervention programmes are initiated to offer support to parents, and ensure that a child’s developmental potential is reached
What can the causes of developmental problems be broadly classified into?
- Prenatal
- Perinatal
- Postnatal
What are the categories of prenatal causes of developmental problems?
- Genetic
- Toxins
- Infections
- Other
What are the prenatal genetic causes of developmental problems?
- Single gene disorders (inherited or new mutation)
- Chromosomal microduplications or deletions
- Aneuploidy or tetraploidy
What prenatal toxins can cause developmental problems?
- Alcohol
- Smoking
- Medication, e.g. sodium valproate
- Recreational drugs
What prenatal infections can cause developmental problems?
Congenital infections, e.g. toxoplasma, rubella, CMV etc
What are the other prenatal causes of developmental problems?
- Placental insufficiency and growth restriction
- Intrauterine cerebral arterial or venous infarction
- Congenital brain malformation, e.g. lissencephaly
What % of cases of cerebral palsy are due to antenatal events?
75-80%
What are the perinatal causes of developmental problems?
- Preterm birth
- Infections
- Hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy
- Physical
What % of children born at 24-25 weeks gestation have some degree of impairment?
55-60%
What % of children born at 24-25 weeks have severe impairment?
15%
What perinatal infections can cause developmental problems?
Bacterial, e.g. GBS, or viral
Give an example of a physical perinatal problem that can cause developmental problems?
Traumatic brain injury
What are the categories of postnatal causes of developmental problems?
- Infection
- Traumatic brain injury
- Brain tumour
- Inborn errors of metabolism
- Environmental
Give an example of a postnatal infection that can cause developmental problems?
Meningoencephalitis (viral or bacterial)
