Children With Special Needs

Question 1

Define developmental delay

Answer 1

Developmental delay is present when functional aspects of the child’s development in one or more domains (motor, language, cognitive, social, emotional)are significantly delayed compared to the expected age

Question 2

What is a global developmental delay

Answer 2

A significant delay in 2 or more of the developmental domains listed

Question 3

Define learning disability

Answer 3

A significant impairment in intellectual functioning and affects the person’s ability to learn and problem-solve in daily life

Question 4

Where do children with special needs present?

Answer 4

Routine health surveillance
Children with identified risk factors
Parental concern
Professional contact: nursery/ daycare
Opportunistic health contact
The UK Healthy Child programme (HCP)

Question 5

Primary care developmental assessment tools

Answer 5

ASQ (ages and stages questionnaire)
PEDS (parents evaluation of developmental status)
M-CHAT (checklist for autism in toddlers)
SOGS-2 (Schedule of growing skills)

Question 6

Define developmental delay, disorder, regression

Answer 6

Delay- global or isolated
Disorder- Abnormal progression and presentation eg Autism
Regression-loss of milestones

Question 7

What is Schedule of Growing skills measuring?

Answer 7

Information of child’s development across a range of areas:
0-5year
9 key areas
Separate cognitive score can be derived

Question 8

Secondary care assessment tools

Answer 8

Griffiths mental development scales
Bayley scales of infant development
Wechsler preschool and primary scales of intelligence

Question 9

Positive red flag signs for development

Answer 9

Loss of developmental skills
Concerns re vision
Concerns re hearing
Floppiness
No speech by 18-24months 
Asymmetry of movement
Persistent toe walking
Head circumference >99.6thC or <0.q4thC

Question 10

Negative development red flag signs

Answer 10

Sit unsupported by 12 months
Walk by 18 months (boys) or 2 years (girls) (CHECK creatinine kinase)
Walk other than on tiptoes
Run by 2.5 years
Hold objects in hand by 5 months
Reach for objects by 6 months
Points to objects to share interest by 2 years

Question 11

Investigations done in developmental worries

Answer 11

Genetic testing- chromosomal analysis, Fragile X, FISH, array CGH
Creatine kinase
THyroid screening 
Metabolic testing: amino and organic acids, NH4, lactate
Opthalmological exam, 
Audiology assessment
Consider congenital infection
Neuroimaging

Question 12

Common problems affecting motor development

Answer 12

Delayed maturation
Cerebral palsy
Developmental coordination disorder

Question 13

Common sensory developmental problems

Answer 13

Deafness
Visual impairment
Multisensory impairment

Question 14

Common language/ cognitive developmental problems

Answer 14

Specific language impairment

Learning disability

Question 15

Common social/ communication developmental problems

Answer 15

Autism
Asperger syndrome
Elective mutism

Question 16

Impression spastic diplegia presentation

Answer 16

Legs are stiff and spastic

Question 17

Characteristics signs of autism

Answer 17

Doesnt respond to name
Reduced eye contact
Few words
Hand flapping
Obsessional behaviour often with numbers, letters
Doesnt respond to praise

Question 18

If austism suspected what would you check to ensure not differentials and what are the differentials

Answer 18

Genetics
FBC
TFT
CK
U/E

Microarray
Fragile X
Rhett’s syndrome

Question 19

Local services for developmental problems

Answer 19

Community paediatric clinic
Child development team
MDT
Therapy services

Question 20

Why might a child or young person need additional support

Answer 20

Difficulties with mainstream approaches to learning
Disability or health needs, such as motor or sensory impairment, learning difficulties or autistic specturm disorder
Family circumstances eg young people who are carers or parents

Question 21

What is PLP

Answer 21

Personal Learning Planning

• way of thinking about, talking about and planning what and how a child learns
• Also a way of assessing their progress and acting on results of that assessment

Question 22

IEP

Answer 22

Individualised Educational Plane
Detailed plan for a child’s learning
Contains specific, short term learning targets for child and will set out how they can be reached

Question 23

What is a co-ordinated support plan

Answer 23

CSP
Detailed plan of how child’s support will be provided
Legal document
Aims to ensure all professionals who are helping the child work together

For children in local authority school education and needing significant additional support
Complex or multiple needs
Needs likley to continue >1 year
Support required by >1 agency

Question 24

GIRFEC child’s plan

Answer 24

Part of the Children and Young people Act

Child’s plan will contain info about:

• why a child or young person needs support
• the type of support they need
• How long they will need support and who should provide it