Neurodevelopmental Disorders Flashcards
Who is it harder to diagnose Neurodevelopmental Disorders in children or adults?
Not diagnosed as easily in children as compared to adults
Why is it difficult to diagnose neurodevelopmental disorders in children?
Lack of abstract cognitive abilities and verbal skills
Constantly changing and developing
What are the similar problems of neurodevelopmental disorders in children and adults?
Similar problems as in adults such as mood, anxiety, and eating disorders
When are neurodevelopmental disorders diagnosed?
Usually diagnosed in infancy or childhood; sometimes in adolescence
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Pervasive, usually severe impairment of reciprocal social interaction skills, communication deviance, restricted stereotypical behavioral patterns
Pervasive developmental disorders (PDDs) are now viewed as what?
Previous PDDs now viewed on continuum called autism spectrum
How does Autism Spectrum Disorder range?
Range from mild to severe behaviors and limitations
When does Autism Spectrum Disorder present?
Present by early childhood (18 months to 3 years); more prevalent in boys
What are the qualities of someone with Autism Spectrum Disorder?
Little eye contact, few facial expressions, limited gestures to communicate, limited capacity to relate to peers or parents, lack of spontaneous enjoyment, express no moods or emotional affect, inability to engage in play or make-believe with toys, little intelligible speech, stereotyped motor behaviors
What are the three major signs of ASD?
little eye contact
limited gestures to communicate
stereotyped motor behaviors
Etiology of ASD?
Genetic link
Controversy with MMR vaccine
How does ASD improve?
Tendency to improve with acquisition and use of language
How are the traits of ASD throughout adulthood?
Traits persist into adulthood.
What are the treatment goals of ASD?
Treatment goals: reduce behavioral symptoms, promote learning and development
What is included in the treatment for ASD?
Special education, language therapy; medications for specific target symptoms
What are specific autism interventions?
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA).
Verbal behavior intervention(VBI)
Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication-handicapped Children (TEACCH)
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
Child learn positive behaviors and reduce negative ones
Verbal behavior intervention(VBI)
focuses on language skills.
Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication-handicapped Children (TEACCH)
Visual cues such as picture cards to help learn everyday skills like getting dressed.
FDA approved Autism Medication Treatment
FDA approved: Risperidone & Aripiprazole (Abilify)
What is the FDA approved meds for autism used for specifically?
Autism related irritability
Tourette disorder:
multiple motor tics, one or more vocal tics. It involves uncontrollable repetitive movements or unwanted sounds (tics), such as repeatedly blinking the eyes, shrugging shoulders, or blurting out offensive words.
What is the cause of Tourette’s disorder?
Genetic involvement although exact cause is unknown.
When do tics in tourette’s appear?
Tics appear between ages 2 and 15, with the average being around 6 years of age.
Who is more likely to develop Tourette’s? By how much?
Males are about three to four times more likely than females to develop Tourette syndrome.
When do tics become controlled or lessened?
Tics often lessen or become controlled after the teen years.
What are FDA approved drugs for Tourette’s?
FDA approved haloperidol (Haldol), pimozide (Orap), and aripiprazole (Abilify)
What drugs are used off label for Tourette’s
Off label: alpha adrenergic agonists (clonidine & guanificine)
Other than drugs, what else is used for Tourette’s treatment?
Psychotherapy
Separation Anxiety Disorder
Fear and anxiety developmentally inappropriate
What is the worry for people with separation anxiety disorder?
Worry about harm to or permanent loss of major attachment figure
What is a common manifestation of anxiety?
School phobia as a common manifestation of anxiety
