Developmental Disorders

1
Developmental Disorders

• Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD)
• Pervasive Developmental Disorders
• Autistic Disorder
• Aspergers Disorder
• Retts Disorder
• Conduct Disorder

2
AD/HD

• Characterized by impulsivity, inattention, and
  hyperactivity that are inappropriate to their
  developmental levels.
• 3-7 of school age children
• often continues into adolescence and adulthood
• 2 to 9 times more common in males than females

3
Diagnostic Criteria

• must begin by age of 7
• must cause significantly impaired academic or
  social functioning
• must present at least 6 symptoms of either
  inattention or hyperactivity (listed below)
• symptoms must last at least 6 months
• symptoms must be present in at least 2 settings

4
Inattention symptoms

• fails to attend to details or makes careless
  errors in schoolwork
• difficulty sustaining attention in schoolwork or
  play
• does not listen when spoken to directly
• does not follow through on instruction or
  complete tasks
• difficulty organizing tasks or activities
• loses things
• easily distracted
• forgetful

5
Hyperactivity-Impulsivity symptoms

• fidgets and squirms
• leaves seat in classroom
• runs about or climbs excessively in inappropriate
  situations
• difficulty playing quietly
• is often on the go with motor running
• talks excessively
• blurts out answers
• difficulty awaiting turn
• interrupts

6
Treatment

• Medication
• Ritalin or Adderall stimulants
• Concerta a time released stimulant
• Straterra a neuromodulator
• Cognitive-Behavioral Therapies
• focus on organizational strategies

7
Pervasive Developmental Disorders

• Severe and pervasive impairment in several
  developmental areas
• Social Interaction
• communication
• Presence of stereotyped behavior, interests,
  activities.

8
Autistic Disorder (Autism)

• Abnormal or impaired development of social
  interaction and communication
• Restricted repertoire of activity and interests
• First identified by Leo Kanner in 1940s
• 4-5 times more common in boys than girls
• Most autistic children have some form of mental
  retardation

9
Symptoms

• Impaired Social Interaction
• impaired nonverbal behaviors (eye contact, facial
  expression, body postures, gestures)
• failure to develop peer relations
• lack of social and emotional reciprocity (give
  and take)

10
Symptoms (cont.)

• Impaired Communication
• delay in, or total lack of, speech
• inability to sustain conversation when speech
  ability is present
• speech abnormalities (eg. Echolalia)
• lack of imaginative play

11
Symptoms (cont.)

• Restricted, Repetitive, and Stereotyped behavior
• restricted range of interests
• insistence on routines and sameness
• stereotyped movements (rocking, head banging,
  etc.)
• preoccupation with mechanical objects
• Symptoms must be present by age of 3

12
Causes

• First thought to be caused by detached parenting
  style
• faulty assumption
• Brain abnormality exact nature is unknown
• Genetic trigger
• Prenatal complication
• MMP Immunization reaction?
• New research says no but doubts remain

13
Retts Disorder

• Only diagnosed in females
• Slowed head growth
• Loss of hand skills
• Impaired language and motor skills

14
Aspergers Disorder

• Differs from Autism in that early language and
  cognitive skills are not significantly delayed.

15
Conduct Disorder

• Persistent pattern of violating rights of others
  and societal norms
• Aggression to people and animals
• Destruction of property
• Deceitfulness or theft
• Serious violation of rules
• Often leads to Antisocial Personality Disorder in
  adults