| Attention
Deficit Disorder (ADD, ADHD, attention deficit hyperactive disorder,
childhood hyperkinesis; hyperactivity) |
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A condition evidencing an attention span that is less than expected
for the age of the child. It is often accompanied with age-inappropriate
hyperactivity and impulsive behavior.
- There are three types of attention deficit disorder
- straight ADHD
- predominately inattentive ADHD
- predominantly hyperactive or impulsive ADHD
Contributing factors can include prenatal toxic exposure and
premature birth, genetics (a family history of school problems,
behavioral disorders, or other psychosocial problems). It is 3
to 10 times more common in males than females.
- Attention deficit symptoms include:
- careless mistakes
- difficulty in following more than one instruction at a
time
- difficulty organizing tasks
- difficulty maintaining attention to tasks
- easily distracted
- failure to complete tasks
- failure to listen when spoken to
- failure to pay attention to details
- Hyperactivity symptoms include:
- constant wandering
- child's unwillingness to to stay seated
- excessive talking
- fidgeting and squirming
- non-participation in quiet activities such as reading
- running and and climbing in inappropriate situations
- Impulsivity symptoms include:
- blurting out answers before questions are completed
- difficulty awaiting turn
- disruptive behavior
- interrupting others
- Other symptoms may include:
- disregard for self safety behavior (resistant to modification
by reward or punishment)
- inability to delay gratification
- inability to play well in a group (running as a social
outcast or loner)
- sleeping problems
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Developmental
Reading Disorder (DRD, Dyslexia)
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A reading disability caused by a disability in the brain's ability
to process graphic symbols.
Early reading is based solely on word recognition. Advanced reading
requires the linking of words into a coherent sentence.
Dyslexic children have trouble forming images from the meanings
of the words or processing the words into an idea which is understandable.
This disability interferes with the ability to the written word
to convey information to its sufferers.
Dyslexia may occur in combination with writing or arithmetic
learning problems.
Diagnostic symptoms include: (a) family history of learning
disorders, (b) difficulty learning to recognize written words,
(c) difficulty rhyming, (c) difficulty in determining the meaning
of a simple sentence.
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Expressive
Language Disorder
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A disorder that results in a smaller than expected vocabulary
and a diminished ability to produce complex sentences or recall
of words - in comparison to what would be otherwise expected from
a person of similar abilities and environment.
The disorder is believed to be caused by propagation delays in
cortical access to that portion of the brain responsible for storing
and processing words.
Symptoms can include (a) below average vocabulary skills, (b)
improper use of tenses, (c) difficulties in the production of
complex sentences, (d) problems in word recall.
The appropriate therapy is language therapy utilizing "block
building techniques" and speech therapy both with the goal of
increasing the number of phrases the child can use.
This disorder is often complicated with learning problems, low
self esteem and socialization problems.
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Mixed
Receptive / Expressive Language Disorder
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Similar to Mixed Receptive / Expressive Language Disorder, only
involving the impairment of both the understanding and the expression
of language.
Psychotherapy is often recommended for children because of the
likelihood a emotional or behavioral problems associated with
the disorder.
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Rett
Syndrome
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| An inherited disorder that affects only females. A
severe neurological disorder that slowly causes developmental regression,
especially in the areas of expressive language and hand use. |
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Autism
(autistic disorder, infant autism)
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A condition resulting in deficits in speech and language development
and unresponsiveness to human interaction. It is frequently accompanied
with strange responses to environmental stimuli.
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Asperger's
Syndrome
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This condition may be related to autism
- The child shows:
- below-average nonverbal communication (sending and receiving
nonverbal cues)
- difficulty in developing peer relationships
- diminished capacity to return social and emotional feelings
- inability to express pleasure in the happiness of other
people
- Symptoms can include
- abnormalities in nonverbal communication (including body
postures, eye contact, facial expressions, or gestures)
- failure to develop peer relationships
- impaired expression of pleasure in other people's happiness
and sharing enjoyment, interests or achievements with them
- failure to return social or emotional feelings
- rigid adherence to routines or rituals
- repetitive hand, finger or body movements
- obsession with narrow areas of interest or with with parts
of whole objects
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