neurodevelopmental disorders Flashcards
What is the definition of Intellectual Developmental Disorder?
A disorder characterized by deficits in intellectual functioning and adaptive functioning that arise during the developmental period.
This includes challenges in meeting developmental and socio-cultural standards for personal independence and social responsibility.
What are the three criteria for diagnosing Intellectual Disability?
- Deficits in intellectual functioning
- Deficits in adaptive functioning
- Onset of deficits during the developmental period
These criteria must be met for a formal diagnosis.
What is the significance of standardized intelligence testing in diagnosing Intellectual Disability?
Individuals typically score two or more standard deviations below the population mean.
This is determined through clinical assessment and standardized tests.
How is the severity of Intellectual Disability classified?
Using specifiers: mild, moderate, severe, or profound.
Severity is based on adaptive functioning in conceptual, social, and practical domains.
What percentage of Intellectual Disability cases have a known cause?
25 to 50%
This indicates that a significant proportion of cases remain unexplained.
What are the primary causes of Intellectual Disability with known etiology?
- 80 to 85% due to prenatal factors
- 5 to 10% due to perinatal factors
- 5 to 10% due to postnatal factors
Prenatal factors include chromosomal and genetic causes.
What are the most common chromosomal causes of Intellectual Disability?
- Down’s syndrome
- Fragile X syndrome
These are the leading genetic causes associated with the disorder.
True or False: Fetal alcohol syndrome is the most common preventable cause of Intellectual Disability.
True
This highlights the importance of prenatal care and avoiding alcohol during pregnancy.
Fill in the blank: Individuals with Intellectual Disability typically score _______ on standardized intelligence tests.
two or more standard deviations below the population mean
This scoring criterion is essential for diagnosis.
What are the two main criteria required for the diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)?
- Deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts
- Restrictive and repetitive patterns of behaviors, interests, and activities
What are some examples of deficits in social communication and interaction in individuals with ASD?
- Impaired social-emotional reciprocity
- Impaired nonverbal communication
- Impaired ability to develop and maintain relationships
What are some examples of restrictive and repetitive behaviors associated with ASD?
- Stereotyped or repetitive motor movements
- Insistence on sameness
- Restricted or fixated interests
- Hyper- or hyporeactivity to sensory input
When must the onset of symptoms occur for a diagnosis of ASD?
During the early developmental period
What factors contribute to a better prognosis for individuals with ASD?
- IQ over 70
- Functional language skills by age five
- Absence of comorbid mental health problems
What are some associated features of ASD?
- Intellectual and language impairments
- Self-injurious behaviors
- Motor abnormalities
- Disruptive/challenging behaviors
True or False: ASD is diagnosed more frequently in females than in males.
False
What is the reported prevalence rate of ASD in the population?
1 to 2% of the population
What are some non-genetic risk factors for developing ASD?
- Male gender
- Birth before 26 weeks of gestation
- Advanced parental age
- Exposure to environmental toxins during prenatal development
What brain abnormalities are associated with ASD?
- Accelerated brain growth starting around 6 months of age
- Abnormalities in the cerebellum, corpus callosum, and amygdala
What neurotransmitter levels are often found to be abnormal in individuals with ASD?
- Lower-than-normal levels of serotonin in the brain
- Elevated levels of serotonin in the blood
What are the primary goals for the treatment of children with ASD?
- Minimize core symptoms
- Maximize independence by promoting functional skills
- Reduce or eliminate interfering behaviors
What is Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention (EIBI)?
An evidence-based treatment using principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA)
What is a notable method of EIBI developed by Lovaas?
Providing at least 40 hours per week of behavioral interventions for young children with ASD
What have research outcomes indicated about EIBI?
It has the greatest positive impact on intelligence and language acquisition
What types of medications are typically prescribed for individuals with ASD?
- Psychostimulants for ADHD
- SSRIs for depression and anxiety
- Atypical antipsychotics for irritability and disruptive behaviors
Fill in the blank: ASD is diagnosed three to four times more often in ______ than in ______.
males; females
What is the significance of the concordance rates for monozygotic twins in relation to ASD?
Concordance rates range from 69 to 95%, indicating strong genetic influence
What does the research by Dawson et al. (2002) reveal about face recognition in children with autism?
Children with autism reacted similarly to novel and familiar faces, unlike typically developing children
What findings did Fridenson-Hayo et al. (2016) report regarding emotion recognition in children with autism?
Deficits in recognizing basic and complex emotions in all expression modalities
What has extensive research failed to establish a link between?
ASD and childhood vaccinations
What is the primary characteristic of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)?
A pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity
ADHD symptoms must persist for at least six months and interfere with functioning.
What are the age criteria for the onset of ADHD symptoms?
Before 12 years of age
How many symptoms of inattention are required for an ADHD diagnosis in children under 17?
At least six symptoms
What are two types of symptoms associated with ADHD?
- Inattention
- Hyperactivity-impulsivity