Disorders of Childhood
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Transcript Disorders of Childhood
Disorders of Childhood
Disorders of Childhood
Undercontrolled
(Externalizing)
Problems for Others
•Attention-Deficit/
Hyperactivity Disorder
•Conduct Disorder
More Prevalent in Boys
Overcontrolled
(Internalizing)
Problems for Self
•Childhood Depression
•Anxiety Disorders
More Prevalent in Girls
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity
Disorder
A disorder in children marked by difficulties in
focusing adaptively on the task at hand, by
inappropriate fidgeting and antisocial behavior, and by
excessive non goal-directed behavior
Many have difficulties getting along with peers and
establishing friendships
About 20-25 percent have a learning disability
Three subcategories: (1) children whose problems are
primarily those of poor attention; (2) children whose
difficulties result primarily from hyperactive-impulsive
behavior; and (3) children who have both sets of
problems.
Etiology of ADHD
Genetic Factors - a predisposition is likely
inherited
Environmental Toxins:
–
–
–
–
Food Additives - unlikely
Refined Sugar - unsupported
Nicotine – likely
Alcohol and drugs - likely
Psychodynamic - authoritarian parenting
Treatment of ADHD
Stimulant drugs, in particular methylphenidate, or
Ritalin, have been prescribed for ADHD since the
early 1960’s.
– 6% of schoolchildren and 25% of special education
students use Ritalin
– Improve concentration, goal-directed behavior, class
behavior, and fine motor activity
– Many not improve academic achievement
– Significant side effects associated with use
Behavior therapy for ADHD also effective
Best approach - Stimulants + Behavior Therapy
Conduct Disorder
Patterns of extreme disobedience in children,
including theft, vandalism, lying,and early drug
use.
Often behavior is marked by callousness,
viciousness, and lack of remorse.
May be precursor of antisocial personality
disorder
Oppositional defiant disorder - an undercontrolled
disorder marked by high levels of disobedience to
authority but lacking the extremes of CD
Treatment of Conduct Disorder
Difficult to treat, as with APD
Juvenile incarceration leads to lower job
stability and more adult crime
Gerald Patterson - Behavioral Parent
Management Training - reduces the rate of
criminal offense
Scott Henggeler - Multisystemic Therapy
Cognitive Skills Training
Moral Reasoning Skills
Autistic Disorder
Presence of markedly abnormal or impaired development
in social interaction and communication and a markedly
restricted repertoire of activity and interests
Autism and Mental Retardation - approximately 80% of
autistic children score below 70 on IQ tests
Autistic Savant - a mentally retarded person with
superior functioning in one narrow area of intellectual
activity
Extreme Autistic Aloneness - In autistic children early
attachment is virtually absent
Autistic Disorder
Communication Deficits - language delay,
echolalia, pronoun reversal, neologisms, literal use
of words
Obsessive-compulsive and Ritualistic Acts autistic children become extremely upset over
changes in their daily activities and surroundings.
They may have OC behaviors (lining up toys in a
specific way) and are given to stereotypical
behavior (e.g., hand movements, rocking)
Prognosis in Autistic Disorder - only 5 to 17% of
autistic children have good adjustment in adulthood
Etiology of Autistic Disorder
Psychological Basis - Bettelheim - autistic
disorder caused by cold and rejecting
parents. No support.
Biological Bases
– Genetic Factors - the risk of autism in the
siblings of people with autism is about 75 times
greater than if the index case does not have the
disorder
– Neurological Factors - EEG and MRI studies
have found abnormalities in autistic children
Mental Retardation
Intelligence test scores below 75; 3 - 5% of
the population
Deficits in adaptive functioning (e.g.,
toileting and dressing, use public
transportation)
Time of onset before age 18 years (to rule
out traumatic injury or illnesses occurring in
later life)
Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales
Age, Years
Adaptive Ability
2
Says at least fifty recognizable words.
Removes front-opening coat, sweater, or shirt
without assistance.
Tells popular story, fairy tale, lengthy joke, or plot of
a TV program.
Ties shoelaces into a bow without assistance.
Keeps secrets or confidences for more than one day.
5
8
11
16
Uses the telephone for all kinds of calls without
assistance.
Watches TV or listens to radio for information about
a particular area of interest.
Looks after own health.
Responds to hints or indirect cues in conversation.
Classification of MR
Mild Mental Retardation (50-55 to 70-75 IQ)
– Able to maintain themselves in unskilled jobs
– May need help with social or financial problems
Moderate Mental Retardation (35-40 to 50-55 IQ)
– Brain damage and other pathologies are frequent
– Most live dependently within family or group homes
Severe Mental Retardation (20-25 to 35-40 IQ)
– Commonly have congenital physical abnormalities
– May be able to perform very simple work under supervision
Profound Mental Retardation (below 20-25 IQ)
– Severe physical deformities and neurological damage
– Very high mortality rate during childhood
Deficiencies in
Community
use
Health
and safety
Social
skills
Attention to
stimuli
Short-term
memory
Self-care
skills
Functional
academic
skills
Deficiencies in
Known
Etiology
Control
function of
language
Unknown
Etiology
Executive
functioning
Processing
speed
Communication
Work
skills
Home
living
skills
Selfdirection
Etiology of Mental Retardation
Genetic or Chromosomal Anomalies
– Down Syndrome or Trisomy 21
– Fragile X Syndrome
Recessive-Gene Diseases
– Phenylketonuria (PKU)
Infectious Diseases
– Cytomegalovirus, toxoplasmosis, rubella,
herpes simplex, and syphilis
– HIV
Down’s Syndrome Child
Child with Fragile X Syndrome
Learning Disabilities
Learning Disorders
– Reading Disorder
– Mathematics Disorder
– Disorder of Written Expression
Communication Disorders
– Expressive Language Disorder
– Phonological Disorder
– Stuttering
Motor Skills Disorder
Etiology of Learning Disorders
Biological -
– Family and twin studies confirm that there is a heritable
component to dyslexia.
– Autopsy studies have shown microscopic abnormalities in the
location, number, and organization of neurons on the left side of
the brain
– PET scans reveal that the temporoparietal cortex of dyslexic
children was not activated during cognitive tasks
Psychological – Visual perceptual deficits - perceiving letters in reverse order or
mirror image
– Language processing - dyslexics have been found to process
visual stimuli more slowly than do normal people and to be less
likely to notice minor contrasts between stimuli