Disorders of Childhood

 

Understand normal development process

Cognitive—kids think differently from adults

Dependency

Temperament—

 

Motor skill development

Language development

Social skill development

 

 

Pervasive developmental disorders

Autism spectrum

 

Varying degrees of

• impaired communication skills,
• problems with social interaction
• behavior patterns that are narrow and repetitive
• does not necessarily include mental retardation

 

Sometimes differences are evident from birth

Other times, children develop normally and then regress

 

 

Diagnostic tools

Autism diagnosis interview revised-

Autism diagnostic observation schedule—

Childhood Autism Rating Scale

 

Etiology-

Genes- twin concordance 60-80%, highest of all disorders

Prenatal damage

 

Treatment:

Varied, very child-specific

 Behavioral

Medications—reduce symptoms so participation in other therapies is better

 

Prognosis

Best predictor is IQ above 50 & language development before age 6

IQ of 70+ especially likely to achieve good or very good outcome.

 

Mental retardation:

 

Before age 18,

significant deficits in ‘adaptive functioning’

eg being able to take care of self, work, live independently.

 

4 levels:

 

Mild

IQ  >50  <70

Largest category

 

Moderate

>35 <50

 

Severe

>20  <40

 

Profound

Below 20

 

Etiology

 

Cultural/familial

 

Organic—typically more severe

 

Organic brain pathology

 

• Genetic-chromosomal—

 

• Infection/teratogens/post-natal toxin exposure—

 

• Trauma—

 

• Ionizing radiation—

 

• Malnutrition etc

Specific disorders

 

Down Syndrome—

 

PKU

 

Cranial anatomy