Neurodevelopmental disorders Flashcards
Define ‘neurodevelopmental condition’
A condition resulting from a person’s brain developing differenting during pregnancy or in the early years of life.
What are ‘disorders of intellectual development’?
Conditions:
* Originating in the developmental period.
* Significantly below average intellect and adaptive behaviour (<2.3%).
Adaptive behaviour consists of conceptual, social, and practical skills used in daily life.
What are the risk factors/causative factors for ‘disorders of intellectual development’?
- Prenatal: exposure to toxic substances or harmful medications.
- Perinatal: labour and delivery problems.
- Postnatal: infections
Which problems occur at higher rates in ‘disorders of intellectual development’?
- Mental health: Depression, Bipolar, Schizophrenia
- Neurodevelopmental: ADHD, ASD
- Dementia
- Seizures
- Poverty
Describe the functional capabilities and needs seen with ‘Mild disorder of intellectual development’
- Often difficulties in acquiring and understanding complex language and academic skills.
- Most mast basic self-care, domestic and practical activities.
- Relatively independent living and employment (may require appropriate support)
Describe the functional capabilities and needs seen with ‘Moderate disorder of intellectual development’
- Language and academic skills generally limited to basic skills.
- Some master basic self-care, domestic and practical activities.
- Most require considerable and consistent support to achieve independent living and employment.
Describe the functional capabilities and needs seen with ‘Severe disorder of intellectual development’
- Very limited language and academic skills.
- May have motor impairments.
- May acquire basic self-care skills with intensive training.
- Typically require daily support in a supervised environment for adequate care.
Differs from profound on the basis of adaptive behaviour differences.
Describe the functional capabilites and needs seen with ‘Profound disorder of intellectual development’
- Very limited language and academic skills.
- May have motor and sensory impairments.
- Typically require daily support in a supervised environment for adequate care.
Differs from severe on the basis of adaptive behaviour differences.
What are ‘developmental speech or language disorders’?
- Persistent difficulties in understanding, producing, or using speech/language.
- Not better accounted for by autism, intellectual disability, sensory impairment, or physical health.
- Onset in the developmental period.
- Markedly below what is expected for age.
- Resulting in significant functional impairment.
What is ‘autism spectrum disorder’?
A lifelong condition characterised by:
* Persistent difficulties in initiating and sustaining social communication and reciprocal social interactions.
* Restricted, repetitive, inflexible behaviours and interests.
* Lifelong sensory over and under-responsiveness.
Onset typically in early childhood. Characteristic symptoms may not fully manifest until later, when social demands exceed capacity.
Causes significant functional impairment.
Give three examples of ASD ‘difficulties in social communication and interaction’.
Limitations in:
* Understanding, interest or inappropriate responses to social communication of others.
* Eye contact, gestures, facial expression, body language.
* Social language and reciprocal conversation.
* Social awareness.
* Imagination, responsiveness to emotions of others.
* Mutual shared interests.
* Typical peer relationships.
Give three examples of ASD ‘persistent restricted, repetitive, and inflexible patterns of behaviours and interests’.
- Lack of adaptibility to new experiences, with associated distress.
- Inflexible adherence to routines.
- Excessive adherence to rules (e.g. when playing games).
- Excessive ritualised behaviour that serve no apparant external purpose (e.g. lining up items).
- Rocking, walking on tiptoes, unusual gand/finger movements, posturing. (e.g. common in early childhood).
Name three risk factors for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Male, family with ASD, mum’s health before and during pregnancy, newborn baby’s health, other neurodevelopmental conditions
- Male
- Family history (occurs in 5-10% if sibling has ASD, 50x than without)
- Genetic disorders (Fragile X, Angelman, Tuberous sclerosis, Rett) and chromosomal disorders (Downs, Turners)
- Prenatal: Increased parental age, parental psychotic/mood disorders, maternal infections.
- Perinatal: Maternal health (sodium valproate, vitamin D deficiency, obesity, pre-eclampsia, mental health), hypoxia.
- Neonatal: Prematurity, very low birth weight, encephalopathy, birth defects (cerebral palsy)
- Other neurodevelopmental: Intellectual disability, ADHD, muscular dystrophy, Tourette’s, neurofibromatosis, tuberous sclerosis.
What was Asperger syndrome?
A seperate diagnosis previous used to describe “milder/high-functioning” autism:
* Average or above average intelligence.
* Absence of learning disabilities (which may occur alongside autism).
* Usually had fewer problems with speech.
Nowadays, this would be included within Autism Spectrum Disorder.
What is ‘Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder’ (ADHD)?
A persistent pattern (6+ months) of:
* Inattention, and/or
* Hyperactivity, Impulsivity
Onset prior to age 12.
Beyond normal variation expected for age and intelligence.
Occurring in multiple situations/settings.
How does ADHD differ from normal behaviour?
ADHD is diagnoses when features of inattention and/or hyperactivity impulsivity are excess of normal for age, across multiple situations/settings, and have persistent severe negative impacts.
Connor’s questionnaire for ADHD help identify the extreme end of these behaviours (T-score >60 = top 2-5%).
