How Kids Are Affected By Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Are you the parent of a child who has been diagnosed with a neurodevelopmental disorder? Are you worried about how these disorders will affect your kid's future?
There are many types of neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and others. These disorders can cause problems with learning, behaviour, social skills, and self-control. Further, they can hinder your child's ability to succeed in school and life in general.
If you have a child with any type of neurodevelopmental disorder, you need to understand the challenges they face. This way, you can help him/her overcome these obstacles to live a happier and more productive life.
This article discusses some of the most prevalent childhood neurodevelopmental disorders and provides tips to help parents cope with these issues.
What is a Neurodevelopmental Disorder?
A neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD) is an umbrella term that refers to a group of conditions that disrupt normal brain development. Neurodevelopmental disorders in kids can inhibit their ability to learn, behave normally, or control emotions. NDDs can be caused by genetic factors, environmental influences, or both.
Neurodevelopmental disorders can occur at different stages of childhood. Some might show up in the newborn years, while others might not show up until much later.
What causes neurodevelopmental disorders?
The exact cause of neurodevelopmental disorders is unknown. However, there are several risk factors that increase the likelihood of developing one of these disorders. These include:
Genetic Factors: A family history of neurodevelopmental disorders increases the chance of having such disorders. For example, if a parent has a diagnosis of autism, then there’s a higher chance that his/her child will have this condition as well.
Environmental Influences: Exposure to certain substances during pregnancy or birth can lead to neurodevelopmental disorders in babies. Examples of these substances include alcohol, tobacco, cocaine, marijuana, and other drugs. Other environmental influences include trauma.
Brain Abnormalities: Certain abnormalities in the brain can result in neurodevelopmental disorders. These abnormalities can be structural or functional. Structural abnormalities include differences in the brain tissue itself, whereas functional abnormalities refer to changes in brain activity.
How to Spot the Signs of Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Kids
Some signs of neurodevelopmental disorders in children are obvious, but others might be more subtle. Knowing what neurodevelopmental disorders look like in kids is crucial to obtaining an early diagnosis.
The following symptoms should alert you to the possibility of a problem:
Difficulty Learning: Children with neurodevelopmental disorders often struggle to learn new things or keep up with their peers. They may have trouble remembering information, understanding instructions, or completing tasks.
Behaviour Problems: Children with neurodevelopmental disorders tend to act out in ways that are disruptive to themselves and others. They may exhibit aggressive behaviours, tantrums, or even violence.
Social Skills Issues: Children with neurodevelopmental disabilities often experience difficulty interacting socially. They may lack empathy, be insensitive to others, or have poor communication skills.
Self-Control Issues: Children who suffer from neurobehavioral problems generally struggle to manage their emotions and impulses. They may become easily frustrated or angry, which can make them lash out at others.
If any of these symptoms persist for longer than two years, it could mean that your child has a neurodevelopmental disorder. If you suspect that your child has a developmental disability, talk to your paediatrician about what steps you need to take next.
Examples of Neurodevelopmental Disorders
See below for some examples of common neurodevelopmental disorders in kids:
Autism spectrum disorders
An autistic child typically exhibits problems with social interaction, language development, and repetitive behaviour. Individuals can experience varying degrees of each symptom. Some people with autism also have intellectual impairment.
Developmental language disorders
Children who have developmental language disorders show delays in acquiring spoken language. This delay usually occurs before age 3.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
A child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) tends to have difficulty focusing on one thing for long periods of time. He or she may also have difficulty staying focused and paying attention. ADHD can cause impulsivity and restlessness.
Congenital deafness
People with congenital deafness have had hearing loss since birth. Many children with this condition are born with other health issues as well.
Schizophrenia
Hallucinations, delusions, and illogical thought patterns are hallmarks of the mental disorder schizophrenia. It affects how a person perceives reality and their ability to function normally. Schizophrenia most commonly begins during adolescence or young adulthood.
Congenital blindness
Children with congenital blindness have been blind since birth. There are many causes of blindness, including genetic defects, trauma, and infections.
Personality disorders
The term "personality disorder" refers to a persistent way of thinking and feeling that is drastically at odds with what other people would consider "normal." People with personality disorders often feel uncomfortable when they interact with others because they don't understand why others treat them differently.
How Neurodevelopmental Disorders Impact Kids
Neurodevelopmental disorders can affect a child's physical growth and development, learning abilities, emotional maturity, and relationships with family members and friends. These conditions can also lead to behavioural challenges, such as aggression, depression, anxiety, and self-injury.
Children living with developmental disorders can have a hard time making friends. They may also struggle in school due to anxieties which can have an effect on their grades.
The challenges can differ between disorders, and each child living with the same condition. The following sections explain how neurodevelopmental disorders impact kids on a day-to-day basis:
Physical Growth & Development: Some neurodevelopmental disorders can interfere with normal brain development and physical growth. For example, children with Williams syndrome tend to be shorter than their peers. And children with Angelman syndrome have small heads and faces.
Capabilities to Learn: If a child has one of several neurodevelopmental disorders, he or she may have trouble picking up new abilities. For instance, children with autism struggle to follow directions and pay attention, making learning a new skill more difficult.
Emotional Maturity: Kids with some neurodevelopmental disorders have trouble regulating emotions. They may act out inappropriately or become aggressive toward themselves or others.
Relationships with Family Members & Friends: Many neurodevelopmental disorders can disrupt a child's relationships with family members and friends, especially if he or she has limited verbal communication skills.
Difficulty Communicating: Communication problems can limit a child's ability to participate in school activities, socialise with friends, and get along with family members. However, not all developmental disorders affect communication.
Behavioural Challenges: Kids with certain neurodevelopmental disorders experience behaviour problems. Examples include aggression, tantrums or meltdowns, and self-injurious behaviours.
Long-term impacts of neurodevelopmental disorders in kids
People with neurodevelopmental disorders are at risk for developing other health issues later in life. Depressive disorders and anxiety are included in this category. It can also include physical health issues like heart disease and diabetes.
In addition, people with neurodevelopmental disorders may need more medical care throughout their lives. This could mean more doctor visits, hospital stays, and prescriptions.
If a neurodevelopmental disorder goes undiagnosed, this can have major repercussions for the child as they age into adolescence and adulthood. For example, the child could be more likely to end up in jail or have a tough time holding down a job.
During their teen years, people with neurodevelopmental disorders have a higher risk of getting into trouble, struggling with new social challenges, and dropping out of high school.
However, with an early diagnosis and an effective treatment strategy, children with neurodevelopmental disorders can go on to live successful lives.
How to Help and Support Kids with Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Parents often feel helpless when their child is diagnosed with a neurodevelopmental disorder. However, there are things that parents can do to help support their child and provide him or her with the best possible chance of leading a happy and healthy life. Some things include:
Talk to your Doctor: Ask your doctor how you can help your child cope with his or her condition. In order to help your child feel better, your doctor can suggest techniques for dealing with stress and anxiety. He or she might suggest talking therapy, medication, or both.
Understand the Condition: Learning about your child’s condition is vital to their well-being as it will help you parent and support them in a more effective way. You should know what type of neurodevelopmental disorder your child has, what treatments are available, and whether your child needs additional services.
Update their Teachers: Talk to your child’s teachers and classmates about your child's condition. Teachers need to know about your child's condition to support them throughout the school day. Classmates knowing and understanding your child's diagnosis may reduce bullying and increase acceptance.
Encourage Extracurricular Activities: Encourage your child to join a sports team or other after-school group activities. Sports teams and other groups where they feel welcomed and can have fun may give your child a sense of belonging and community.
Learn About your Child's Rights: Children with special needs have specific legal protections under federal law. These laws protect them from discrimination and ensure that they receive appropriate education and access to healthcare.
Get Involved in your Child’s life: Being part of your child’s daily routine in the most helpful and positive way can make it easier for him or her to adjust to changes in his or her environment.
Support your Child’s Relationships: If your child has a close relationship with another person, he or she may benefit from having someone else to talk to, helping them navigate it successfully.
Learn about your Child’s Strengths: There are many positive aspects to your child’s personality. Learning these traits can help you understand your child’s behaviour and teach you coping strategies.
Talk to Your Child About Their Future: As your child grows older, they will face new challenges. By learning about these challenges now, you can prepare your child for the future.
Treatment Options for Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Children
There are several different types of treatments that can be used to treat kids with neurodevelopmental disorders. Some of these treatments include:
Psychotherapy
Medication
Physical Therapy
Occupational Therapy
Speech Therapy
Behavioural Intervention
See below for an explanation of each of the above treatment options:
1) Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a form of counselling that helps people change negative behaviours and thoughts. Furthermore, it provides practical skills that can be used in a variety of contexts.
Forms of Psychotherapy:
Psychological and Behavioral Methods in Cognitive Treatment
With the help of cognitive behavioural therapy, patients can learn to replace negative thoughts with more optimistic ones. CBT is one of the most common forms of psychotherapy because it works well with children who have problems such as ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, and oppositional defiant disorder.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Emotions and behaviors are considered intertwined in dialectical behavior therapy. DBT helps patients learn to identify and control their feelings before acting out. This technique is especially useful for treating children who have anger issues.
Interpersonal therapy (IPT)
Interpersonal therapy is similar to CBT but emphasises working through interpersonal conflicts instead of focusing on individual problems. IPT is often used when there is a history of abuse or neglect.
2) Medications
Many medications are used to treat neurodevelopmental disorders. The goal of medication is to reduce symptoms so that your child can function better at school and in other areas of their life.
3) Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is a type of rehabilitation that uses exercise to improve movement and coordination. It is usually done by physical therapists who specialise in this area.
4) Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy is designed to help children develop the skills needed to live independently. For example, occupational therapy might focus on teaching children how to use a computer mouse or how to dress themselves.
5) Speech Therapy
Speech therapy is designed to help your child speak clearly and effectively. It can be helpful if your child has trouble speaking due to a speech problem, such as stuttering or lisping.
6) Behavioural Intervention
Behavioural intervention is a type of therapy that teaches parents and teachers specific ways to deal with disruptive behaviours. It may involve techniques like time-out, reward charts, and ignoring bad behaviour.
Key Takeaways
In conclusion, neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) affect millions of children worldwide. They range from mild learning disabilities to more serious developmental disorders like autism spectrum disorder (ASD). NDDs often go undiagnosed until after age 5, but early intervention can improve outcomes significantly.
Here's why you should care: If left untreated, many of these conditions will have lifelong consequences, including poor academic performance, deficits in social skills, and increased risk of suicide.
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