Childhood Development Disorders and Autism Flashcards
ADHD
Onset
Childhood onset, usually by age 12
ADHD
Ratio M:F
M > F
10:1
ADHD
Symptoms
Inattention- trouble paying attention/listening; losing things; careless mistakes
Hyperactivity- fidgeting, squirming, running or climbing a lot
Impulsivity- no forethought before behavior; impatient; interrupts others
Disruption of functioning across settings (school and home)
ADHD
Caused by….
Low dopamine levels
ADHD
Treatment
Stimulants: Methylphenidate
Nonstimulants: Atomoxetine
ADHD
Diagnostic criteria
Symptom onset > 12 years, duration >6 months
2 or more settings
Either Predominantly Inattentive, Hyperactive/Impulsive, or Combined
ODD
Symptoms
- Often loses temper and argues
- Hostile, defiant behavior towards authority
- Annoys others
- Spiteful and vindictive
- Anger guided disobedience
Conduct Disorder
Symptoms
“More severe form of ODD”
Often bullies others Destroys property Animal cruelty Starts fights Skips school
What is a tic?
Involuntary, sudden and rapid movement or vocalization
May occur under stress
Tourette’s Disorder
Onset and M:F ratio
Onset: mean age 7
M: F = 3:1
Tourette’s Disorder
Cause
Increased Dopamine
Tourette’s Disorder
What is it?
Multiple motor and vocal tics, occurring every day or intermittently for over 1 year
Tourette’s Disorder
Treatment
Haloperidol
Clonidine
Separation Anxiety Disorder
Ages
Mostly age 7-11
Separation Anxiety Disorder
Symptoms
Fear, anxiety, avoidance when away from attachment figure persistent for over 1 month
Constant thoughts and fear of something bad happening to parents
School refusal (for fear of parents being harmed)
Describe Systematic Desensitization
Based on classical conditioning
Used to treat anxiety and phobias
Goal: replace anxiety with relaxation
Try to relax the person in presence of the feared stimulus
Describe Biofeedback
Based on operant conditioning
Using external stimuli to modify internal physiologic stress
Trail-and-error learning and repeated practice to
Why is treating developmental issues early very important?
Family problems from childhood and adolescence affect brain development and can lead to mental health issues later in life
Infants
Smiling
Smile is an innate reflex at birth
Infants show exogenous smiling in response to a face at 8 weeks
Social smile at 12-16 weeks
Infants
When do first words typically occur? First steps?
First words - 10 months
First steps- 13 months
Infants
Stranger Anxiety
Distress in presence of unfamiliar people
Appears at 6 months
Peaks at 8 months
Gone after 12 months
Infants
When should normal separation anxiety disappear by?
By age 2
What is resilience?
Qualities that help a person withstand many negative aspects of adversity
What is child abuse and when should it be reported?
Tissue damage, neglect, sexual exploitation, or mental cruelty
Report if suspected
What are some clinical signs of child abuse?
Broken bones in 1st yr of life
STDs in young kids
Soft tissue injury (burn, bruise, laceration)
What children are at highest risk for abuse?
Younger than 4yo
Special needs (intellectual disability, learning disability, other mental illness, chronic physical illness)
Children who are abused are more likely to…
Be aggressive in classroom
Perceive others as hostile
Solve problems with aggression
Be unpopular with peers
Have friends who tend to be younger
Risk Factors for Childhood sexual abuse
- Single parent families
- Marital conflict
- Parent or child with history of physical abuse
- Social isolation
Intellectual Disability
How does it present?
Developmental delay
Intellectual Disability
Symptoms
Deficits in intelletual function
Deficits in adaptive behavior (not meeting standards for personal infependence)
Intellectual Disability
Most common known cause…
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Facial characteristics
Small eye openings
Smooth philtrum
Thin upper lip
Intellectual Disability
Most common genetic causes…
Down Syndrome
Fragile X Syndrome
ASD
When is the diagnosis made? Why?
M:F Ratio?
Diagnosis before age 3
Often diagnosed due to 1. social relatedness and connectivity or 2. restricted activities or interests
M:F = 3:1
ASD
Genetic Links and Potential Causes
Chr 15
Chr 11
(Monozygotic > Dizygotic twins)
Assoc with prenatal and perinatal injury
Increased risk if mom had allergies, asthma, or psoriasis while pregnant
ASD
Cormorbid diseases
EEG and seizure disorders
ASD Clinical Signs
Deficits in reciprocal social interaction
Decreased activities and interests
Delayed language development, impairment in verbal and nonverbal communication
No separation anxiety
Shrinks from touch
Stereotyped behavior and interests
Rett Syndrome
M:F Ratio?
General development and symptoms
Girls > Boys
Initial development normal, then get REGRESSION
Symptoms: Hand wringing, small hands and feet, microcephaly
Asperger’s Syndrome
Symptoms
Language normal
IQ normal
Higher level of functioning
Impaired social interactions and social cues
Special Education Needs mandate that each child with developmental disabilities gets an…
IEP
- Speech therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Communication assistance devices
- Specific teaching techniques for autism
What is “Shaping”?
Based on operant conditioning
Rewarding successive approximations to the desired behavior
