Understanding neurodevelopmental disorders
Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are characterized by an alteration in the child's cognitive and/or emotional development that significantly impacts their adaptive academic, social and family functioning and have an impact on their mental well-being.
The brain of a person with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) is built, develops and functions differently throughout life.
Autism, ADHD, learning disabilities…
what are we talking about?
New versions of the international classifications (such as the DSM-5 and ICD-11) have profoundly changed the way disorders are described, taking into account both the progression over time and the intensity of symptoms. Today, neurodevelopmental disorders include:
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and communication disorder
- Attention deficit disorder (ADHD – Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)
- Language acquisition disorders regarding comprehension and/or expression (dysphasia)
- Developmental coordination disorder with difficulties in acquiring and performing motor skills (dyspraxia) possibly with a writing disorder (dysgraphia)
- Specific learning disorders including difficulties with reading (dyslexia), writing (dysgraphia), or mathematics (dyscalculia)
- Intellectual disabilities involving limitations in cognitive functioning and adaptive behaviors
- Tic disorders and Tourette's syndrome
How to get a diagnosis of neurodevelopmental disorder?
When discussing neurodevelopmental disorders, we consider 4 associated criteria:
- The child has a delay or a deficit in one or more developmental areas, such as language, motor skills, or social skills
- This disorder has a significant impact on their adaptation in various contexts, whether in the family, at school or with friends
- The difficulties appeared early in childhood, with the first signs visible before the end of preschool, evolving throughout adolescence and potentially persisting into adulthood
- No medical conditions, especially neurological conditions (such as epilepsy), sensory deficits (such as deafness), or an insufficiently stimulating environment can explain these difficulties
NDDs exhibit highly variable degrees of severity and are frequently associated with each other, thus constituting a multiple neurodevelopmental disorder.
Only a doctor, most often a pediatric neurologist or child psychiatrist, can make a diagnosis of neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD). They rely on their expertise and on assessments gathered by other professionals : neuropsychologists, psychologists, occupational therapists, psychomotor therapists, speech therapists, etc.
If you have questions about your child's development and wish to begin a diagnostic process, I will guide you in defining an individualized roadmap. Click here for more information.