Neurodevelopmental Disorders Flashcards
What are neurodevelopmental disorders, and what is the key characteristic that defines them?
Neurodevelopmental disorders are conditions arising from abnormalities in the central nervous system’s growth or development. They are primarily defined by difficulties in the acquisition of specific intellectual, motor, language, or social skills, emerging during the developmental period.
Explain the significance of developmental milestones. How are they used, and what does a delay potentially indicate?
Developmental milestones are points in time when a child learns to accomplish a task. They are used as a guide to track typical development, and while delays don’t always signal a problem, they suggest the possibility of an underlying issue.
List the four main domains of development that are often assessed in children.
The four domains of development are: gross motor, vision and fine motor, hearing, speech and language, and social, emotional and behavioural.
What is the key difference between ‘intellectual disability’ and ‘developmental disability’, and how does the term ‘learning disability’ relate to these concepts?
Intellectual disability is a type of developmental disability, characterised by deficits in intellectual and adaptive functioning, whereas developmental disabilities encompasses a broader group of conditions with impairments in various developmental dimensions. Learning disability is a term that denotes a permanent impairment of intelligence, typically originating in childhood, and is associated with limitations in social functioning.
Explain the difference between developmental and acquired speech and language disorders, and how these may present.
Developmental speech and language disorders arise during development, unlike acquired disorders caused by later injury. They often manifest as difficulties in understanding or producing speech and/or using language for communication. Primary delays often have familial patterns, while secondary delays may have a range of causes.
Briefly describe how the severity of Disorders of Intellectual Development is classified.
The severity of Disorders of Intellectual Development is classified based on the degree of deviation from the mean on standardised tests, and comparable behavioural indicators. The categories are mild, moderate, severe and profound.
Briefly outline the “triad of impairments” that characterise Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
The triad of impairments in ASD consists of deficits in social interaction, communication difficulties and restricted, repetitive and inflexible interests or behaviours.
Discuss the prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder and some of the factors that may influence diagnosis.
Autism spectrum disorder occurs in approximately 1 out of 250 births and can be reliably diagnosed as early as age two, though most children are diagnosed later. Diagnosis can be influenced by gender (more common in males), genetic factors, and parental age.
What are the main characteristics of Developmental Motor Coordination Disorder (Dyspraxia)?
Developmental Motor Coordination Disorder is characterized by significant delays in acquiring and executing motor skills, manifesting as clumsiness, slowness or inaccuracy of movement, and causing persistent limitations.
Describe the two main categories of symptoms associated with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and how these may present.
The two main categories of symptoms in ADHD are inattention, which involves difficulties with sustained focus and organisation, and hyperactivity-impulsivity, which includes excessive motor activity, difficulty remaining still, and acting without considering consequences.
