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Minipedia - vital information

ADHD

AD/HD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) is a neurobiological disorder characterized by developmentally inappropriate impulsivity, attention, and in some cases, hyperactivity beginning in childhood, "typically" by the age of 7. Children with AD/HD often have a 2-4 year developmental delay and frequently have other coexisting conditions. To be diagnosed with AD/HD, individuals must show at least 6 of the characteristics in either or both of the categories below. Symptoms must be more frequent or severe than in other children the same age. Symptoms must be present for at least 6 months.

There are 3 primary subtypes

 

 

AD/HD predominately
inattentive type

AD/HD
predominately hyperactive-impulsive type

 

 

Fails to give close
attention to details or makes careless mistakes

Has difficulty
remaining seated.

 

 

Has difficulty
sustaining attention.

Fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in chair.

 

 

Does not appear to
listen.

Difficulty engaging
in activities quietly.

 

 

Struggles to follow
through on instructions.

Acts as if driven by
a motor.

 

 

Has difficulty with
organization.

Talks excessively.

 

 

Avoids or dislikes
tasks requiring sustained mental effort.

Blurts out answers
before questions have been completed.

 

 

Loses things.

Difficulty waiting
or taking turns.

 

 

Is easily distracted

Interrupts or
intrudes upon others.

 

 

Is forgetful in
daily activities.

 

Autism

Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life. It is a brain disorder that affects a person's ability to communicate, form relationships with others, and respond appropriately to the environment. People with autism are not physically disabled and 'look' just like anybody without the disability. Those with high-functioning autism may have speech and intelligence intact. Others may be mentally disabled, mute, or have serious language delays. Autism may make them seem closed off and shut down. Some seem locked into repetitive behaviors. People with autism tend to share certain social, communication, motor, and sensory problems that affect their behaviour.

People with autism may have some of the following traits.

Blind and Vision Impaired

Blindness: The inability to see. The limiting of one or more of the basic functions of the eye: visual acuity, dark adaptation, color vision, or peripheral vision. These may result from EYE DISEASES; OPTIC NERVE DISEASES; VISUAL PATHWAY diseases; OCCIPITAL LOBE diseases; OCULAR MOTILITY DISORDERS; and other conditions.
The condition of lacking visual perception due to physiological or neurological factors.
There are over 50 definitions of blindness worldwide. The World Health Organization definition of blindness is less than 3/60 in the better seeing eye. This means that the better seeing eye cannot read the top letter on the Snellen visual acuity chart at three meters.

Visual Impairment:  Reduced vision as a result of a disorder or disease of the eye or brain.

Signs and symptoms of low vision or blindness

There are MANY conditions that affect the eyes and vision. I will list some of them below. Please be sure to check out the LINKS section to find more information.

Amblyopia- A condition in which a person's vision does not develop properly in early childhood because the eye and the brain are not working together correctly. Amblyopia, which usually affects only one eye, is also known as "lazy eye." A person with amblyopia experiences blurred vision in the affected eye. However, children often do not complain of blurred vision in the amblyopic eye because this seems normal to them. Early treatment is advisable, because if left untreated, this condition may lead to permanent vision problems or even partial blindness. Treatment options include vision therapy exercises, prescription eyeglasses, or surgery. People with amblyopia may need to wear an eye patch over their stronger eye in order to force the affected eye to function as it should.

Anopthalmia- Rare condition in which one or both eyes do not form during pregnancy. When both eyes are affected, blindness results. Prosthetic eyes can promote proper growth of the eye sockets and development of facial bones and also serve cosmetic purposes

Astigmatism- Common vision condition, caused by an irregularly curved cornea or lens. People with astigmatism may experience blurred vision, eyestrain, or headaches. Can be corrected with eyeglasses, contact lenses, or corrective surger.

Cataract- A condition in which the lens of the eye, which is normally clear, becomes cloudy or opaque.

Coloboma- A cleft or gap in some part of the eye, such as the iris, lens, or retina, that is caused by a defect in the development of the eyeball.Children whose vision is impaired by coloboma may benefit from using reading materials that have large black print and well-spaced letters and words. They may also find it helpful to read one line at a time with the aid of a cutout reading window.

Cortical visual impairment- Visual impairment caused by damage to the part of the brain related to vision. Although the eye is normal, the brain cannot properly process the information it receives. The degree of vision loss may be mild or severe and can vary greatly, even from day to day. Cortical visual impairment may be temporary or permanent. People with cortical visual impairment have difficulty using what their eye sees. For example, they may have trouble recognizing faces, interpreting drawings, perceiving depth, or distinguishing between background and foreground. Children with cortical visual impairment are often able to see better when told in advance what to look for.

DeMorsier's Syndrome- Rare disorder, present at birth, in which the optic nerve is underdeveloped, the pituitary gland does not function properly, and often a portion of brain tissue is not formed. De Morsier's Syndrome isalso known as septo-optic dysplasia. It may cause blindness in one or both eyes and is also often accompanied by nystagmus and various other symptoms. Some children with De Morsier's Syndrome have normal intelligence, while others may be developmentally delayed, learning-disabled, or mentally retarded.

Nystagmus- Condition that involves involuntary, rapid, repetitive movements of one or both eyes from side to side, up and down, or in a circular motion. Children with nystagmus may frequently lose their place when reading. Placing a cutout reading window over words or using a card to "underline" text can be helpful.

Optic nerve atrophy- Degeneration of the optic nerve, which carries vision information from the eye to the brain. People who have optic nerve atrophy may have dimmed or blurred vision as well as a reduced field of vision. They may also have difficulty seeing contrast and fine detail. Vision loss through optic nerve atrophy is permanent. However, if the underlying cause can be identified and successfully treated, further vision loss may be prevented. Bright lighting, high contrast, and bold colors can help children with optic nerve atrophy see more clearly.

Optic nerve hypoplasia- Condition, present at birth, in which the optic nerve is underdeveloped, so that adequate visual information is not carried from the eye to the brain. The effects of optic nerve hypoplasia have a broad range, from little or no visual impairment to near-total blindness. The condition may affect one or both eyes.

Retinoblastoma- Malignant tumor (cancer) of the retina, generally affecting children under the age of 6. Usually hereditary, retinoblastoma may affect one or both eyes. Retinoblastoma has a cure rate of over 90 percent if treated early. Without prompt treatment, the cancer can spread to the eye socket, the brain, and elsewhere, and can cause death. Depending on the size and location of the tumor, treatment options include laser surgery, cryotherapy (a freezing treatment), radiation, and chemotherapy. In some cases, the affected eye may need to be removed.

Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP)- Condition associated with premature birth, in which the growth of normal blood vessels in the retina stops, and abnormal blood vessels develop. As a result, the infant has an increased risk of detachment of the retina. Retinopathy of prematurity can lead to reduced vision or blindness. Laser therapy can help this condition if diagnosis and treatment occur early. Children who experience minor effects may benefit from the use of devices for low vision as they get older. Retinopathy of prematurity was formerly called retrolental fibroplasia.

Strabismus- Condition in which the eyes are not both directed toward the same point simultaneously. Strabismus occurs when eye muscles are not working together properly. It is most commonly an inherited condition, but may also be caused by disease or injury. If diagnosed early, strabismus can usually be corrected. The condition may be treated with corrective eyeglasses, eye-muscle exercises, surgery, or a combination of these approaches. Young children with this condition may need to wear an eye patch over their stronger eye to force their weaker eye to function correctly. Children whose strabismus is not corrected may develop amblyopia.

Cerebal Palsy

Cerebral palsy is a condition caused by damage to the brain, usually occurring before, during, or shortly after birth. "Cerebral" refers to the brain and "palsy" to a disorder of movement or posture. It is not progressive. Prenatal causes of cerebral palsy include illness during pregnancy, premature delivery, and lack of oxygen supply to the baby caused by premature separation of the placenta, an awkward birth position, labor that goes on too long or is too abrupt, and interference with the umbilical cord. Other causes may be associated with, RH or A-B-O blood type incompatibility between parents, infection of the mother with viral diseases such as German measles in early pregnancy, and microorganisms that attack the newborn's central nervous system. Causes of cerebral palsy after birth may be a result of an accident, viral infection, and child abuse. Depending on which part of the brain is damaged and the degree of involvement of the central nervous system, one or more of the following may occur: tonal problems, involuntary movement, spasms, problems with gait and mobility, seizures, impairment of sight, hearing and/or speech, and mental retardation. Early identification and intervention are vital. About 3,000 babies are born with this disorder each year.

There are 3 main types of cerebral palsy:

Many people with cerebral palsy may have a combination of these. This is referred to as mixed cerebral palsy.

Children with cerebral palsy may receive:

Deaf and Hard of Hearing

About 2 - 3 infants out of every 1000 live births will have some degree of hearing loss at birth. Hearing loss can also develop in children who had normal hearing as infants. The loss can occur in one or both ears, and may be mild, moderate, severe, or profound. Profound hearing loss is what most people call deafness.

Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Sensorineural hearing loss is permanent and there is currently no cure. Hearing aids may help. Sensorineural hearing loss is the most common type of hearing loss.  90 percent of all hearing aid wearers have sensorineural hearing loss. When the problem is in the inner ear, a sensorineural hearing loss occurs.

Conductive Hearing Loss

Conductive hearing loss occurs when sound is not conducted efficiently through the ear canal, eardrum or the bones of the middle ear. This results in a reduction of loudness of sound reaching the inner ear. Conductive hearing loss may result from earwax blocking the ear canal, fluid in the middle ear, middle ear infection, obstructions in the ear canal, perforations in the eardrum or disease of any of the three middle ear bones. People with conductive hearing loss may notice their ears seem to be full or plugged. 

Mixed Hearing Loss

Mix of both a sensorineural and conductive hearing loss.

Central Hearing Loss

Central hearing loss results from damage to the auditory nerve itself, or the brain pathways that lead to the nerve. Central hearing loss is rare in infants and children.

High Risk Factors
Birth - 28 days:

29 days - 2 years

A child who has had one or more of these conditions is considered "at risk" for a hearing impairment and should have a comprehensive audiologic evaluation by a pediatric audiologist.

Milestones of Normal Development
Some babies have a significant hearing loss due to unknown factors. Use these developmental guidelines to watch for hearing and speech milestones.

0 - 4 months: Stops movement or quiets in response to speech. Startles to loud sounds. Moves eyes toward sound source. Arouses from light sleep to sudden loud noises.

4 - 7 months: Begins head turn toward sounds and voices out of sight (4 months) and turns head directly toward the sound source (7 months). Smiles in response to speech. Looks in response to own name. Babbling begins.

7 - 9 months: Turns to find a sound source out of sight. Gurgles or coos to sounds out of sight. Intonation patterns heard in speech. Comprehends "no." Babbles in multiple syllables.

9 - 12 months: Acquires first true word. Imitates sounds. Looks at a common object when named. Responds to music. Understands simple commands.

13 - 18 months: Uses sentence-like intonation. Perceives emotions of others. Uses 3 - 20 words. Uses all vowels and consonants in jargon.

19 - 24 months: Uses more words than jargon. Asks question by rising intonation at end of phrase. Comprehends about 300 words. Uses about 50 words. Produces animal sounds. Combines 2 words into phrases. Listens to simple stories.
(from http://www.hsdc.org)

Treatment depends on the overall health and cause of hearing loss. Treatment may include:

Developmental Disabilities/Mental Retardation

The term developmental disability means a severe, chronic disability of an individual 5 years of age or older that:

* As defined by the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 1994.

An individual is considered to have mental retardation based on the following three criteria: