Neurodevelopmental Disorders Flashcards
Define neurodevelopment disorder
- impairments in the brain or central nervous system
What are some examples of neurodevelopment disorders?
- fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD)
- Down syndrome
- Tourette syndrome
- cerebral palsy
What do neurodevelopmental disorders have in common?
- root of disorder is a neurological dysfunction that affects intellectual, emotional, social, and (sometimes) physical development
- often struggle to fit into society
What are 3 symptoms ADHD is characterized by?
inattentive, hyperactive, impulsive behaviour
in most countries, boys are 3 times more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD (True or False)
True
What environment do children with ADHD do better in?
- schools that engage in active, flexible, and hands-on learning
Where was ADHD first identified?
- in schools as a result of misbehaviour, poor academic achievement (or a combination of these)
In the DSM-5, a child must present with _ out of 18 symptoms that are consistent over a period of _ months
6, 6
What 4 symptoms does the DSM-5 list for ADHD
- difficulty waiting their turn
- often talks excessively
- often fails to give close attention to detail or makes mistakes
- often does not follow through on instructions and fails to finish school work
What is the global prevalence for ADHD?
over 5% of children had ADHD
studies suggest ~_ children received an inappropriate diagnosis and over _ received stimulant medication
1.1 million, 800 000
What are some characteristics of Autism?
- person has difficulty understanding the need to be social
- struggle to manage social life and social expectations
- no biomarkers
What was ADHD previously called?
Hyperkinetic Impulse Disorder
What 4 events led to the emergence of ADHD?
- Sputnik
- convinced scientists and educators that if the education system didn’t change, the US would lose the Cold War
- proved that the education system was not up to the standards of producing scientists and engineers who would win the space race - National Defence Education Act (NDEA)
- classrooms and learning transitioned to “by the book”
- students more adept at hands on learning struggled and were singled out as problematic
- GI Bill reinforced that secondary school was necessary for success - WWII
- psychiatry became more significant due to interest in keeping soldiers mentally healthy
- gained more prestige and led to NIMH - Rise of Biological and Social Psychology
- development of new drugs led to more focus on the brain as the key for mental health
- ritalin = wonder drug
How did Autism emerge?
- articles written by Leo Banner and Hans Asperger as first description of autism
- Lorna Wing: popularized term “Asperger” that was distinct from autism
- Bonnie Evans argues Eugen Bleuler coined the term “Autism” and Jean Piaget developed the autism model
What are some explanations for the cause of ADHD?
- genetic neurological deficit - many attempts to ID gene responsible
- food allergy
- psychoanalytic theories (“Mother Blame”)
- lead, sleep deprivation
- ADHD is a social construct = does not exist
- pharmaceutical companies selling the idea that ADHD was not normal and needed to be controlled
What are some explanations for the cause of Autism?
- rooted in the brain
- Bettelheim: “coldness” of parents (discredited theory”
- dietary explanations
- MMR vaccination theory (measles, mumps, and rubella)
What is the main treatment method for ADHD?
Ritalin (stimulant drug)
Why was Ritalin problematic for treating ADHD?
- did not work for 20%of patients
- questions regarding safety and whether is was ethical to give children stimulants (drug dependency)
- concerns about side effects
What are some other treatments for ADHD?
- elimination diets (Feingold diet)
- educational interventions
- mind-body therapy (CBT, neurofeedback, physical activity)
Why is there no “magic bullet” for Autism?
- hard to develop and find medication that will reduce core symptoms of autism
What drugs are used to reduce some symptoms and behaviours of autism?
- hyperactivity and inattentiveness (stimulants)
- anxiety and depression (SSRI antidepressants)
- irritability and aggression (antipsychotics)
- sleep difficulty (melatonin)
What does the Neurodiversity movement advocate for?
- argues that autism and other mental illnesses are not “pathologies” but instead apart of the normal spectrum of human experiences and behaviour
- argues that instead of trying to cure autism, help those with neurodevelopment disorders to adapt to the world and make society more accommodating
What are some challenges and contradictions to the Neurodiversity Movement?
- group posits that autism is a neurological issue (not proven by research)
- reductionist view: presents autism as homogenous and overlooks diversity
- majority of members are “high-functioning” and successful (ignores those less able to participate)
