W6 Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Autism

a neurodevelopmental disorder involving difficulties in social communication, restricted or repetitive behaviours, sensory differences, and a strong need for routine

ADHD

a disorder involving persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that interfere with daily functioning

Intellectual disability

a condition with significant limitations in intellectual functioning and adaptive skills that begin during development

Specific learning disorder

persistent difficulties in a specific academic skill such as reading, writing, or maths despite normal intelligence

Learning disorder

a broad term for ongoing difficulties acquiring academic skills due to neurological differences

Oppositional defiant disorder

a behavioural disorder involving anger, irritability, defiance, and arguing with authority figures lasting at least six months

Hypoxia

a lack of adequate oxygen to the brain or body tissues that can cause developmental or cognitive problems

Fragile X syndrome

a genetic condition caused by an X-chromosome mutation leading to intellectual disability, behavioural issues, and distinct physical features

Neurodevelopmental disorders

conditions starting in early childhood that impair social, academic, personal, or occupational functioning due to differences in brain development

Echolalia

repetition of words or phrases spoken by others, often used in autism for communication or regulation

Copy number variants

genetic changes where DNA sections are duplicated or deleted, increasing risk for developmental disorders

Stuttering

a speech disorder involving disruptions in fluency such as repetitions, prolongations, or blocks

Language disorder

persistent difficulties producing or understanding spoken language, including limited vocabulary or sentence structure

Childhood-onset fluency disorder

the clinical term for stuttering when it causes ongoing communication difficulties in childhood

Childhood disintegrative disorder

a rare condition where a child loses previously acquired language, social, or motor skills after at least two years of normal development

Rett disorder

a disorder mostly affecting females where normal early development is followed by regression, loss of hand skills, motor problems, and repetitive hand movements

Joint attention

the ability to share focus with another person on the same object or event, often impaired in autism

Prosody

the rhythm, intonation, and pitch of speech that convey meaning and emotion

Ritualistic behaviour

repetitive or rigid routines that a person feels compelled to follow

Maintenance of sameness

a strong preference for routine and resistance to change

Naturalistic teaching strategy

an intervention method that teaches skills through a child’s natural interests and everyday activities

PKU

a genetic metabolic disorder where the body cannot break down phenylalanine, leading to brain damage if untreated but preventable with a strict diet

Lesch-Nyhan syndrome

a rare genetic disorder causing intellectual disability, motor problems, and severe self-injurious behaviour

Down syndrome

a chromosomal condition caused by an extra chromosome 21 leading to intellectual disability and characteristic physical features

Amniocentesis

a prenatal test that samples amniotic fluid to detect chromosomal or genetic abnormalities

Chorionic villus sampling (CVS)

a prenatal test that samples placental tissue to detect genetic conditions earlier in pregnancy

Cultural-familial intellectual disability

mild intellectual disability arising from combined genetic and environmental influences without a specific biological cause identified