Neurodevelopmental Disorders were introduced in DSM-5 as an overarching disorder category. They encompass disorders that occur in childhood and persist throughout the person’s lifetime.
In a registry-based study of children born extremely preterm before 24 weeks, 75% had neurodevelopmental disorders and required habilitation services at age 2-13 years. They often had comorbid disorders, like intellectual disability (ID), hearing impairment and epilepsy.
Causes
Neurodevelopmental Disorders are neurologically based conditions that interfere with the acquisition, retention or application of specific skills or sets of information. They can affect any part of the brain or nervous system. Examples include fetal alcohol syndrome, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADD or ADHD), specific learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, tic disorders and intellectual disability.
The causes of neurodevelopmental disorders vary from genetic mutations at conception to prenatal and postnatal factors. They may also be due to environmental toxins that enter the body either during pregnancy or shortly after birth.
While there is no known way to prevent these conditions, good prenatal care increases the chances of a healthy child with few complications. Regular wellness visits can also help identify possible early signs and symptoms. Treatment varies based on the condition, but effective therapeutic strategies are available to control certain signs and symptoms. Medications can reduce agitation, hyperactivity and pulsations while psychotherapy helps children and adults manage behavioral patterns.
Symptoms
Neurodevelopmental Disorders affect the way a person thinks, behaves and interacts with their environment. They can be mild impairments, allowing people to live an everyday life, or severe disorders that require lifetime healthcare. They can also affect different parts of the brain, including the emotions, learning ability and self-control. Common examples include schizophrenia, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Tourette Syndrome and Fragile X disorders.
These conditions can appear at any age. Effective prenatal care increases the chances of having a full-term healthy baby and reduces the chance of neurological problems developing later in life. Regular wellness checkups can help identify early signs and symptoms and lead to intervention.
There are no cures for these disorders, but there are many effective therapeutic strategies to manage them. Doctors can prescribe medications that reduce agitation, pulsations and anxiety. Psychotherapy and counseling can teach children and adults coping techniques. Applied behavior analysis is an example of a therapy that can improve social interaction and problem-solving in children with autism.
Diagnosis
In the not-so-distant past, few people outside of mental health circles paid attention to disorders such as dyslexia or autism. But in recent decades, they have received considerable media coverage and a great deal of research interest.
Neurodevelopmental Disorders are conditions that affect the normal functioning of the brain during critical periods in early development. They include autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, motor disabilities such as cerebral palsy, seizures and learning difficulties like dyslexia.
Biologically, genetic mutations are a major cause of many of the neurodevelopmental disorders. However, it can be difficult to establish genotype-phenotype correlations, since most known gene mutations disrupt converging pathways that control cellular processes.
For this reason, the diagnosis of a neurodevelopmental disorder can be a long and complex process. Families may choose to seek a diagnosis by their child’s pediatrician, psychologist or neuropsychologist. Alternatively, they may request that their child’s school conduct an evaluation. The results of this evaluation are used to determine eligibility for special education services.
Treatment
Researchers are looking into the possibility of gene therapy for some neurodevelopmental disorders. This involves targeting the genetic mutations that cause the disorder.
Studies also explore the potential of animal models that can help in understanding how neurodevelopmental disorders develop. This is important for identifying which mechanisms in the brain are disrupted, and which developmental stages they occur during. It also helps in prioritizing research efforts and establishing a roadmap for translation to clinical therapies.
Although there is no cure for neurodevelopmental disorders, effective therapeutic strategies can control symptoms and improve quality of life. Treatment options include medications that may reduce anxiety, agitation, tics and hyperactivity. Other interventions such as behavior therapy and psychotherapy can help children and adults learn to manage their behaviors. The brain is an ever-changing organ, and it can grow stronger if early treatment begins. Visit a neurologist at Dignity Health - St. Rose Dominican for a complete evaluation and diagnosis.
