Neurodevelopmental disorders consist of conditions that affect an individual’s “normal” development, with a specific lack of development in the nervous system. These conditions manifest in different ways and lead to impairments in cognitive, motor, and social functions.
In nearly all cases, these conditions manifest early in childhood and significantly impact daily life and functions.
Fortunately, many of the conditions have individualized treatment plans with the aim of addressing these challenges to improve their overall lives. This article explores five neurodevelopmental disorders you should be aware of.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
In recent years, people have made a dramatic shift from negatively describing autism to showing how intelligent, loving, kind, and special autistic individuals are.
The repositioning has allowed for more support than ever before and has offered people a wonderful opportunity to learn more about people with autism — to offer support and assistance. Challenges in social interaction, communication, and repetitive behaviors characterize this complex neurodevelopmental condition.
Because symptoms vary from person to person, a personalized approach to autism treatment and care is encouraged. Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control say that ASD affects one in 54 children in the United States. This reaffirms the need for early detection and intervention.
One of the key treatment plans is Applied Behavior Analysis therapy. This evidence-based approach allows ABA therapists to improve their social, behavioral, and communication challenges by systematically analyzing and modifying said behavior.
Most — if not all — healthcare providers offer ABA treatment plans, and there are ABA facilities nationwide, too. There are also ABA billing experts who specialize in the billing process, ensuring a streamlined and accurate claim and billing process, leaving medical practitioners and patients at ease.
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
There was always a time when people had some form of attention deficit disorder. This neurodevelopmental condition is distinguished by ongoing patterns of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.
Because this condition shows itself in children, it is imperative to have detecting measures in place early on. While it presents itself in children, there are also cases where adolescents and adults have been diagnosed with the disorder, but these cases are rare.
There have been multiple studies with interesting results that show that ADHD is prevalent in around 9.4% of children aged between two and 17 in America. To treat this condition, there are often multiple avenues to follow, including behavioral therapy, medication, and educational intervention.
Intellectual Disability/Disorder (ID)
This is one of the most uncommon disorders. However, it is vital to understand how this condition manifests and who it affects the most. Intellectual Disorder is identified by limitations in an individual’s intellect and adaptive behavior.
These characteristics can affect an individual’s social and practical skills, which is often a significant challenge to overcome when living with or around other people who are most often strangers.
This is one of the most uncommon neurodevelopmental disorders, and it usually presents itself during a person’s developmental phase. Only 1% of the global population is affected by ID, and it is most commonly found in men.
However, about 85% of the population has mild symptoms of ID. It is important to note that several treatments are available for ID, including educational support, vocational training, and behavior therapy.
Communication Disorders
This is one of the broadest neurodevelopmental disorders since it encompasses a range of communication conditions, including speech, sound, language, and social. These disorders affect an individual’s ability to understand, use, and detect verbal and non-verbal communication.
These disorders can severely impact academic, social, and also occupational functioning. Treatment for these disorders usually includes speech and language therapy and is covered by insurance.
Specific Learning Disorders
There is this misconception that if an individual has a learning disorder, they are unintelligent. This is simply false and paints people with specific learning disorders in a negative light.
While neurodevelopmental disorders affect an individual’s development, it does not mean they are of lower intelligence. In fact, in many instances, it is the direct opposite, as those with learning disorders often find unique ways to learn and process information.
So, what are specific learning disorders?
They are conditions in individuals who have difficulty acquiring and using academic skills, impacting their ability to learn, read, write, and perform basic mathematical calculations. On paper, this reads as though someone with this condition would be unintelligent; however, remember that it is only one aspect of life.
There have also been studies that show that mathematics can quite literally be painful to 90% of the population, and this by no means indicates that people who do not understand maths are of low intelligence.
The common types of specific learning disorders include dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia. Interventions for these conditions include educational support, specialized tutoring, personalized learning plans, and behavioral plans.
Understanding Neurodevelopmental Conditions
Whether you have a family member with a neurodevelopmental condition or work with people who do, a certain level of sensitivity and care is required. It is also vital to know exactly how the conditions manifest so you can treat the individual with the dignity and respect they deserve.
People with neurodevelopmental conditions have increasingly received more support, and while this is always welcomed, more work needs to be done to support these individuals from all spheres of life.
