Childhood, Neurodevelopmental, and Aging Disorders Lecture

A comprehensive set of 85 English vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, disorders, theories, assessments, etiologies, and treatments discussed in the lecture on childhood, neurodevelopmental, and aging-related mental health conditions.

Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Conditions that originate before, during, or soon after birth and disrupt brain development (e.g., ID, ASD, ADHD).

Disorders of Childhood and Adolescence

Emotional or behavioural conditions emerging as children develop, often shaped by environmental influences.

Resilience (Child Psychology)

Capacity of children to adapt and thrive despite adversity such as poverty or disability risk.

Normalization Principle

Philosophy promoting life conditions for people with disabilities that are as typical and least restrictive as possible.

Deinstitutionalization

Movement since the 1960s to relocate individuals with disabilities from large institutions to community settings.

Educational Mainstreaming

Integrating students with disabilities into regular classrooms for some or all academic subjects.

Case: Jessica (Down Syndrome)

14-year-old with moderate ID integrated into high school academics but experiencing social isolation.

Case: Ryan (Fragile X)

10-year-old with limited attention span whose outbursts improved via environmental changes and a token program.

Case: Stevie (Autism)

4-year-old whose tantrums decreased as functional communication skills were taught and reinforced.

Case: Justin (Reading Impairment)

13-year-old with high IQ and dyslexia aided by adaptive technology and supportive teaching.

Intellectual Disability (ID)

DSM-5 term for significant limitations in intellectual and adaptive functioning arising during development.

Intelligence Quotient (IQ)

Standardized score (mean = 100, SD = 15) estimating general intellectual ability.

Adaptive Behaviour

Conceptual, social, and practical skills used in everyday life; deficits help diagnose ID.

Dominant Inheritance

Genetic pattern where a single mutated allele can produce a disorder.

Recessive Inheritance

Genetic pattern requiring two mutated alleles—one from each parent—for disorder expression.

Sex-Linked Inheritance

Transmission of disorders via genes on sex chromosomes; often affects males more.

Chromosomal Abnormality

Spontaneous genetic error such as trisomy causing developmental disorders.

Down Syndrome

Condition, usually trisomy 21, with characteristic appearance and mild-to-moderate intellectual impairment.

Trisomy 21

Presence of an extra chromosome on pair 21 responsible for most Down syndrome cases.

Fragile X Syndrome

Inherited X-linked cause of ID featuring cognitive, behavioural, and physical symptoms.

Phenylketonuria (PKU)

Recessive metabolic disorder causing toxic phenylalanine buildup and ID without dietary control.

Teratogen Exposure

Prenatal exposure to toxins (e.g., alcohol, radiation) that can damage fetal brain development.

Psychosocial Disadvantage

Environmental deprivation—lack of stimulation and caregiving—impairing intellectual growth.

Romanian Orphanage Findings

Research showing longer institutionalization leads to lower IQ, stunted growth, and behaviour problems.

Family Stress and Disability

Heightened parental stress when raising a disabled child; buffered by social support and cohesion.

Social Inclusion

Active community participation that enhances development of individuals with disabilities.

Operant Conditioning

Behavioural principle using reinforcement to increase desired actions; effective in skill training.

Dual Diagnosis

Co-occurrence of a neurodevelopmental disorder with a psychiatric disorder (e.g., ASD with depression).

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Neurodevelopmental condition marked by social-communication deficits and restricted, repetitive behaviours.

Social Interaction Deficit

ASD hallmark: limited interest in faces, poor eye contact, deficient reciprocal social behaviour.

Echolalia

Automatic repetition of others’ words or phrases, common in ASD speech.

Pronoun Reversal

Speech pattern where individuals swap 'I' and 'you'; frequent in ASD.

Stereotyped Behaviour

Repetitive, purposeless movements or gestures characteristic of ASD.

Savant Ability

Isolated area of exceptional skill (e.g., calendar calculation) seen in a minority of autistic individuals.

Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-G)

Standardized, play-based assessment observing ASD symptoms across age-appropriate activities.

Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R)

Structured caregiver interview providing diagnostic information for ASD.

Psychogenic Hypothesis (ASD)

Discredited theory blaming cold, rigid parenting for autism development.

CHD8 Gene

DNA-regulating gene whose mutations produce an autism subtype with large head and GI issues.

Functional Communication Training

Behavioural method teaching acceptable communication to replace challenging behaviours.

Learning Disability (LD)

Unexpected difficulty in reading, writing, or math despite normal intelligence and opportunity.

Specific Learning Disorder

DSM-5 diagnosis for persistent academic skill deficits not explained by other conditions.

Dyslexia

Specific impairment in accurate or fluent word recognition and reading comprehension.

Dyscalculia

Specific impairment in understanding numbers and performing mathematical operations.

Impairment in Written Expression

Learning disability involving deficits in spelling, grammar, and organizing written text.

Nonverbal Learning Disability (NLD)

Profile of strong verbal skills with visuospatial, motor, and social perception deficits.

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Neurodevelopmental disorder featuring inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.

Inattention (ADHD)

Symptom cluster of distractibility, disorganization, forgetfulness, and poor sustained focus.

Hyperactivity

Excessive motor or verbal activity such as fidgeting, running, or excessive talking.

Impulsivity

Tendency toward hasty actions without forethought, interrupting others, difficulty waiting turn.

Combined Type ADHD

ADHD presentation with both inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms.

Gene–Environment Interaction (ADHD)

Model where genetic susceptibility and environmental factors jointly influence ADHD severity.

Prefrontal Cortex

Brain region for executive functions; often smaller or less active in ADHD.

Basal Ganglia

Subcortical structures for motor control and emotion regulation implicated in ADHD pathology.

Stimulant Medication

Drugs like methylphenidate that boost dopamine/norepinephrine to reduce ADHD symptoms.

Contingency Management

Parent-training technique using systematic rewards and consequences to shape behaviour.

Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)

Pattern of angry, defiant, vindictive behaviour toward authority figures in children.

Conduct Disorder (CD)

Persistent violation of others’ rights and societal norms including aggression and theft.

Heterotypic Continuity

Phenomenon where a disorder’s symptoms change form across development while core pathology persists.

Coercive Family Process

Cycle of negative parent-child interactions that reinforce antisocial behaviour.

Separation Anxiety Disorder

Childhood condition marked by intense distress when away from attachment figures.

Amygdala Hyperactivity

Increased threat detection activity linked to anxiety disorders, including separation anxiety.

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)

Evidence-based treatment targeting maladaptive thoughts and behaviours.

Paradox of Aging

Observation that many older adults report high life satisfaction despite increased vulnerabilities.

Late-Life Major Depressive Disorder

Depression occurring in older adults, often underdiagnosed yet responsive to treatment.

Late-Onset Schizophrenia

Schizophrenic symptoms first appearing after age 45, more prevalent in women.

Neurocognitive Disorder (NCD)

Acquired cognitive decline that interferes with daily functioning; umbrella term for dementias.

Anterograde Amnesia

Inability to form new memories following brain damage.

Retrograde Amnesia

Loss of memories formed before the onset of brain damage.

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD)

Progressive, irreversible neurocognitive disorder characterized by neuronal death and memory loss.

Amyloid Plaques

Extracellular beta-amyloid deposits abundant in Alzheimer brains.

Neurofibrillary Tangles

Twisted tau protein filaments inside neurons found in Alzheimer’s disease.

Cholinergic Hypothesis

Theory that Alzheimer symptoms stem from loss of cortical acetylcholine activity.

Cholinesterase Inhibitor (ChEI)

Medication that slows acetylcholine breakdown to treat cognitive symptoms of AD.

APOE Gene

Apolipoprotein E gene; ε4 allele increases Alzheimer risk, especially in women.

Vascular Dementia

Cognitive decline resulting from cerebrovascular disease and multiple small strokes.

Frontotemporal Dementia

Degeneration of frontal and temporal lobes causing personality and language changes.

Parkinson’s Disease Dementia

Cognitive decline developing during progression of Parkinson’s disease.

Pseudodementia

Depressive condition mimicking dementia but potentially reversible with treatment.

Mediterranean Diet

Nutritional pattern rich in fruits, vegetables, fish, and olive oil linked to reduced AD risk.

Sleep Deprivation and Amyloid

One night without sleep raises beta-amyloid levels in memory-related brain regions.

THC and Amyloid

Cannabinoid shown in vitro to reduce amyloid-beta accumulation and inflammation.

Mental Activity (Protective Factor)

Engagement in cognitively stimulating tasks that may lower dementia risk.

Social Support

Interpersonal relationships that buffer stress and aid coping with disability or aging.

Token Economy

Behaviour modification system where tokens exchanged for rewards reinforce desired actions.

Adaptive Technology

Assistive tools (e.g., text-to-speech) that help individuals with learning disabilities succeed academically.