Chapter 2: Neurodevelopmental Disorders

neurodevelopmental disorders

a cluster of disorders characterized by abnormalities in brain development affecting emotion, learning ability, self-control, and memory with a typically early onset that unfolds as a person grows

intellectual disability (intellectual development disorder)

a neurodevelopmental disorder that appears before adulthood, characterized by an individual's significantly impaired cognitive functioning and deficits in adaptive behaviors, with significantly sub-average intellectual functioning

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

U.S. statute that guides how early intervention and special education services are provided to infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities

global developmental delay

a neurodevelopmental disorder diagnosis used for individuals who are 5 years of age or younger and fail to meet expected developmental milestones in several areas of intellectual functioning

autism spectrum disorder (ASD)

a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social deficits and communication difficulties, stereotyped or repetitive behaviors and interests, and, in some instances, cognitive delays

attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects the areas of social skills, behavior, and communication

communication disorders

a cluster of neurodevelopmental disorders that affects how a person speaks and communicates to the extent that it interferes with school, work, or even relationships

language disorder

a neurodevelopmental communication disorder characterized by difficulties in learning and using language that involve the processing of linguistic information due to deficits in comprehension or production

speech sound disorder

a neurodevelopmental communication disorder describing those who have problems with pronunciation and articulation to the extent that they interfere with being understood or prevent verbal communication

phonological knowledge

knowledge of speech sounds that enables an individual to produce speech

movements of the articulation

the ability to coordinate the jaw, tongue, and lips

childhood onset fluency disorder

a neurodevelopmental communication disorder subcategory reserved for frequent, persistent, and marked instances of stuttering

social (pragmatic) communication disorder

a neurodevelopmental communication disorder describing difficulties in social use of verbal and nonverbal communication, which affects social participation, relationships, academic achievement, or job performance (or any combination)

unspecified communication disorder

a neurodevelopmental communication disorder reserved for those who have symptoms of a communication disorder but who do not meet all criteria and whose symptoms cause distress or impairment

specific learning disorder

a neurodevelopmental disorder describing difficulties learning and using academic skills

dyslexia

an alternative term used to refer to a pattern of difficulties characterized by problems with accurate or fluent word recognition, poor decoding, and spelling difficulties

dyscalculia

an alternative term used to refer to a pattern of learning difficulties characterized by problems with accurate or fluent word recognition, learning arithmetic facts, and performing accurate or fluent calculations

motor disorders

a new DSM-5 subcategory of neurodevelopmental disorders that includes developmental coordination disorder, stereotypic movement disorder, and the tic disorders including Tourette syndrome

developmental coordination disorder

a neurodevelopmental disorder subcategory of the motor disorders characterized by impaired skills requiring motor coordination; also known as dyspraxia or clumsy child syndrome

stereotypic movement disorder

a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by repetitive, nonfunctional motor behaviors that markedly interferes with normal activities or can result in bodily injury

tic disorders

a subcategory of the neurodevelopmental motor disorders, distinguished by the presence of motor and/or vocal tics

simple motor tics

uncontrolled body movements that are of short duration

complex motor tics

uncontrolled body movements that last longer than simple motor tics and can include a combination of simple tics such as simultaneous head turning and shoulder shrugging

copropraxia

a complex motor tic behavior characterized by making an obscene gesture

echopraxia

a tic-like imitation of another's physical gestures and movements similar to a pantomime

palilalia

complex vocal tics characterized by repeating one's own sounds or words