What are Neurodevelopmental disorders? 

Neurodevelopmental disorders are a group of heterogeneous conditions characterized by delay or disturbance in the acquisition of skills in a variety of developmental domains, including motor, social, language, and cognition.

What causes Neurodevelopmental disorders?

Although the aetiology remains unknown in many cases, various factors can affect normal brain development. Causes can be classified as follows:
  • Genetic causes: Genetic mutations and metabolic conditions at conception.
  • Prenatal causes: Such as nutritional deficiencies and maternal infections during pregnancy.
  • Perinatal causes: For example, those due to complications that arise during labor, typically a lack of oxygen (hypoxia).
  • Postnatal causes: Refer to factors such as traumatic brain injury, infections like meningitis or exposure to environmental toxins after birth.
  • Social deprivation: Deprivation from social and emotional care causes severe delays in brain and cognitive development.

Types of Neurodevelopmental disorders

Neurodevelopmental disorders currently considered, recognised and acknowledged to be as such are:
  • 1.Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that involves problems with attention, concentration and/or increased activity levels, resulting in problems with school, work and social situations. Individuals with ADHD also often experience trouble with impulse control.
  • 2.Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD): Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is a group of conditions that affect social interactions, behavior, and communication. It is an umbrella term that includes conditions known as autistic disorder, Asperger syndrome, and non-specific pervasive developmental disorders. ASD is usually found in children in the first 2 to 6 years of life.
  • 3.Intellectual Disability (ID): Intellectual disability affects about one percent of the population, and of those about 85 percent have mild intellectual disability. Males are more likely than females to be diagnosed with intellectual disability. Intellectual and developmental disability (IDD), previously called mental retardation.
  • 4.Genetic Disorders: Genetic disorders such as Fragile X syndrome, Rett syndrome, Down syndrome, or tuberous sclerosis.
  • 5.Neural Tube Defects: Neural tube defects result from a failure in closing of the neural tube during gastrulation, which causes congenital malformations of the spinal cord and brain. Open neural tube defects result in exposure of the brain and/or spinal cord at birth and include anencephaly, encephaloceles, hydranencephaly, iniencephaly, schizencephaly and spina bifida.
  • 6.Tic Disorders: Tics are irregular, uncontrollable, unwanted, and repetitive movements of muscles that can occur in any part of the body. Such as Tourette's syndrome.
  • 7.Specific Learning Disorders: A specific learning disability is a disorder that interferes with a student’s ability to listen, think, speak, write, spell, or do mathematical calculations. Students with a specific learning disability may struggle with reading, writing, or math. Such as dyslexia or dyscalculia.
  • 8.Language and Speech Disorders: Learning a language takes time, and children vary in how quickly they master milestones in language and speech development. Typically developing children may have trouble with some sounds, words, and sentences while they are learning. However, most children can use language easily around 5 years of age.
  • 9.Movement Disorders: People with movement disorders can experience involuntary movement such as tremor, abnormal posture, slowness, walking difficulty, and stiffness due to neurological conditions. Movement disorders are often induced by pathological changes within the brain. Often, the cause may not be known, although heredity and environment may play a role in some cases. 
  • 10.Disorders due to neurotoxicants: Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, Minamata disease caused by mercury, behavioral disorders including conduct disorder etc.
  • 11.Traumatic brain injury: Traumatic brain injury usually results from a violent blow or jolt to the head or body. An object that penetrates brain tissue, such as a bullet or shattered piece of skull, also can cause traumatic brain injury.
  • 12.Mood & Anxiety Disorders: Common mood disorders include all types of depression, bipolar disorder, seasonal affective disorder and others.