Childhood Learning and Neuropsychiatric Disorders Flashcards
Stats on Dyslexia
- 4-9% of school aged kids
- 3:2;M:F
- Genetic component
- Acquired or developed
Visual processing model
Impaired whole word reading but words can be sounded out, implying an impairment of orthographic skills
Phonological model
Intact whole word readings but impaired ability to sound out words, implying an impairment of auditory/language skills
What is phonological processing?
Translating letters into speech and sound
What is word-decoding?
Translating letter strings into word sounds
What is naming-speed?
The rate of retrieval for digits, letters etc.
Symptoms of dyslexia
- Difficulty with word decoding
- Slow and non-automatic reading
- Disrupted indentifying and comprehending words
- Deficits in phonological processing and naming speed
What components are spared in Dyslexia?
Listening comprehension, intelligence, reasoning, vocab and syntax
Double deficit hypothesis
Cause-effect issue: reading disabilities can be caused by phonological processing and naming speed deficits
Two components of working memory implicated in dyslexia
- Articulatory phonological loop, buffer for manipulating verbal + auditory info
- Visuospatial sketchpad, buffer for manipulating visual + visuospatial info
Neuropathogenesis of dyslexia
Phonological processing = planum temporale of the left posterior temporal lobe.
Regional abnormality = less activation of the left posterior temporal + tempero-parietal cortices
Reading performance = rate of CBF to the region aroynd the planum temporale
Three systems involved in reading
- Left dorsal parietal-temporal: visual print to phonological, requires attention
- Left ventral occipital-temporal: visual word recognition, no attention required
- Broca’s
Stats of non-verbal learning disability
- 0.1-1% of learning disability population
Neuropsychological pathology of NVLD
- Posterior RH: associated with diffuse organization and inter-regional integration of info
- Integrity of white matter: affects communication within the brain
- Anterior RH: conceptual thinking and mental flexibility
Treatment of NVLD
Improving verbal and non-verbal communication skills + social skills
Pervasive Developmental Disorder areas of impairment
- Social interactions
- Verbal + non-verbal language
- Range of interests and activities
- Flexibility of behaviour
Stats about autism
- 1/1000 children
- Across culture and race
- 2:1/6:1 - M:F
Impairments in autism
- Social relatedness
- Language development
- Unusual, repetitive patterns of behaviour
3 Core deficits in autism
- Ability to relate to others
- Deficits in communication
- Unusual behavioural patterns
Ability to relate to others, expanded
Limited awareness of others, emotional aloofness and lack of understanding for social convention
Deficits in communication, expanded
Delayed/failure to develop spoken language, impairment of expression and comprehension.
Unusual behaviour patterns, expanded
Preoccupation with specific areas of interest: objects, tasks etc.
How does Aspergers’ differ from high functioning autism?
Normal IQ and onset of language, difference between not wanting to do something and not being able to,
Pathogenesis of autism
- Environmental: perinatal conditions
- Genetics: 20 genes implicayed
- Greater head circumference at birth, increased brain grown in months 1-2 and 6-14.
Disruptive Behavioural Disorder
ADHD, ODD, CD
Psychiatric: presence of developmentally inappropriate behaviour or violations of socially dictated acceptable behaviour
Clinical presentation of ADHD
Age inapproporiate inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity
Stats on ADHD
- Over half of childhood disorders
- 3-9% of population
- 3:1/9:1-M:F
- 30-60% continues into adulthood
Comorbidity for ADHD
- 40-65% CD and ODD
- 25-50% Tourettes
- 18-50% Anxiety and Depression
- 15-20% Learning Disabilities
Neuropsychological pathogenesis of ADHD
- Genetic
- Family context
- Neural substrates: Most major cortical + subcortical regions implicated, asymmetrical smaller frontal lobes, smaller cerebellum and disruption in frontal BG.
Developmental course of ADHD
Infant: overactive, sensitive to stimuli, slow adaptation to change
Toddler: doesn’t consider consequences, difficult, doesn’t listen to orders, accident prone
Teen: learning difficulties, frustration
Adult: hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity persist
Treatment for ADHD
Multimodal: tailored to each individual, targets core components, centred around caretakers and teachers.. Usually a hybrid of behavioural intervention and psychopharmacology
Clinical categories of tics
Transient: motor OR vocal, -12 months
Chronic: motor OR vocal, 12+ months
Tourette’s: motor AND vocal, 12+ months, significant clinical impairment
4 different tics
- Copropraxia: obscene gestures
- Echopraxia: repeated movements of others
- Coprolalia: obscene/inappropriate speech
- Echolalia: repeating words of others
Prevalence of Tourettes
- 1-8/1000 children
- 4:1 - M:F
- Across ethnic groups
