Disorders Usually First Diagnosed in Infancy, Childhood or Adolescence

Introduction:
Some people at an early age are found to have mental disorders, these Disorders
Usually First Diagnosed in Infancy, Childhood or Adolescence have several subcategories, but they all revolve around mental disorders that appear usually in childhood
and continue to be a problem if not treated. The symptoms of these disorders are going to
vary wildly because there are so many different types of these mental disorders, but in
general they include problems with learning and development, some of which carry on
into adulthood. Treatment for these disorders is available, but first here is a quick
overview of the different types of disorders first diagnosed in infancy, childhood or
adolescence.

Content:
Intellectual Disabilities
People with intellectual disabilities have scored very low on mental ability or intelligence
tests.

Mild Intellectual Disability - While intellectual development is typically slow,

the ability to learn in a normal setting is possible. Most symptoms appear in the
preschool years, but problems are noticed right after birth in others.

Moderate Intellectual Disability - A slightly lower IQ score is referred to as a

moderate intellectual disability (previously moderate mental retardation.) Symptoms
include low test scores and other physical and psychological signs.

Severe Intellectual Disability - The next level of intellectual disability is given to

those with an even lower IQ score. Symptoms include severe problems learning and
inability of a person to take care of themselves.

Profound Intellectual Disability - The most severe level of intellectual disability

(although some of these are subjective or arbitrary), profound intellectual disability
makes it very difficult to learn and be self-sufficient.

Unspecified Intellectual Disability - If there are other circumstances involved or

unknown factors, a person may be described as having an unspecified intellectual
ability. The symptoms will include some or all of the above and will vary person to
person.

Learning Disabilities
Learning disabilities are neurological disorders that make it difficult to learn. This could
be considered as the "wiring" of the brain not working correctly. There are several types
of learning disabilities.

Reading Disorder - This is a significant impairment of reading accuracy,

comprehension and speed to a degree that it affects a person's academic pursuits or
everyday life.

Dyslexia - This learning disability causes people to switch letters, making it

difficult for them to read.

Spelling Disorder - While some may say that bad spelling is just laziness, there is
a learning disorder that centers around the inability to spell and may be connected to
dysgraphia, a writing related learning disorder.

Mathematics Disorder - Problems with numbers and mathematics may point to

the learning disability known as mathematics disorder.

Disorder of Written Expression - Also known as dysgraphia, this learning

disability makes it difficult or impossible for a person to write clearly and
effectively.

Unspecified Learning Disorder - Someone who has some or all of the symptoms
for the learning disabilities listed above might be said to have a learning disability.

Motor Skills Disorder

Also known as motor dyspraxia, a motor skills disorder affects a child's ability to move
around and perform complex tasks. Some symptoms may include hypotonia (a floppy
baby) or hypertonia (a rigid baby.)

Developmental Coordination Disorder - When a child does not develop normal

motor coordination, it is referred to as developmental coordination disorder.
Symptoms may appear in infancy or later in a child's life.

Communication Disorders
Communication disorders are those that affect oral motor skills or problems with being
able to communicate effectively.

Expressive Language Disorder - Children effected by expressive language

disorder generally understands language better than they are able to communicate
with others.

Mixed Receptive-Expressive Language Disorder - This communication

disorder centers around an inability to understand language as well as problems
communicating with others.

Phonological Disorder - Children who do not develop the ability to produce

some or all sounds needed for speech are said to have a phonological disorder.

Acquired Aphasia with Epilepsy - Also known as Landau-Kleffner syndrome,

this affects verbal communication, but also has the potential for convulsions.

Stuttering - This is a disorder that causes people to repeat words or have

problems pronouncing words correctly.

Unspecified Communication Disorder - When the symptoms from some or all

of the communication disorders are present, it is referred to as an unspecified
communication disorder because it doesn't fit exactly under one of the other
categories.

Pervasive Developmental Disorders

Pervasive development disorders are those that affect the development of many basic
skills; the ability to communicate, to use imagination and socialize with others.
Symptoms include confusion and problems understanding the world and how it works.

Autistic Disorder - This is a a neurological and developmental disorder that

usually appears within the first three years of life.

Autism - This causes neural development in children that is characterized by

impaired social interaction and communication.

Rett's Disorder - This is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects gray matter

of the brain, and results in small hands, feet, and slow head growth.

Childhood Disintegrative Disorder - When a child develops normally for the

first three to four years of their life then begins to have learning or social interaction
problems, it is referred to as childhood disintegrative disorder.

Asperger's Disorder - This variation of an autistic disorder could be said to be

said to be a milder form of that developmental disorder.

Unspecified Pervasive Developmental Disorder - When a child shows

symptoms of two or more of the developmental disorders listed above, they are said
to have unspecified pervasive developmental disorder because of the inability to
categorize it under any of the other known types.

Attention-Deficit and Disruptive Behaviour Disorders

Attention-Deficit and Disruptive Behaviour Disorders affect a person's ability to pay
attention. Symptoms include disruptive behavior and attention problems.

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) - There are various subtypes of this disorder, but they center around an inability to stay focused and hyperactivity.

Conduct Disorder - When bad behavior gets out of control, it may be sign of
conduct disorder.

Oppositional Defiant Disorder - Constant tantrums and angry or disruptive

behaviors like arguing with authority figures may be a sign of oppositional defiant
disorder.

Unspecified Disruptive Behavior Disorder - When a child exhibits symptoms

from two of more of the behavioral disorders mentioned above but it can't be
narrowed down, it is called unspecified disruptive behavior disorder.

Feeding and Eating Disorders of Infancy or Early Childhood

These developmental disorders center around eating and usually start to affect children
very early in life. Symptoms include eating inappropriate or harmful items and other
eating problems.

Pica - This disorder centers around eating non-food materials - some hazardous
and some not.

Rumination Disorder - This chronic eating disorder focuses on a person's mild

regurgitation of food after meals - not vomiting.

Feeding Disorder of Infancy or Early Childhood - When malnutrition is not

caused by a medical problem, it is referred to as a feeding disorder of infancy or early
childhood.

Tic Disorders
When abrupt, involuntary and repetitive movements and sounds are present, it may be a
sign of a tic disorder.

Tourette's Disorder - This neuropsychiatric disorder causes at least one motor

and one vocal tic that persists from childhood.

Chronic Motor or Vocal Tic Disorder - When the tic is limited to just vocal or
just motor, it is not diagnosed as Tourette's Disorder.

Transient Tic Disorder - Those who suffer from tics - when a part of the body
moves quickly, repeatedly, suddenly and uncontrollably - are said to have transient
tic disorder.

Unspecified Tic Disoder - Those who show symptoms from several of the above
tic disorders have an unspecified tic disorder.

Elimination Disorders
Developmental disorders that center around the elimination of feces or urine are referred
to as elimination disorders.

Encopresis - The voluntary or involuntary passage of stools in a child who has

been toilet trained - typically over 4 years old.

Enuresis - Bedwetting - involuntary urination - in children over the age of 5 years

old is called enuresis.

Other Disorders of Infancy, Childhood or Adolescence

These are some other common developmental disorders that affect infants, children and
adolescents.

Separation Anxiety Disorder - This is a psychological condition that causes

people to miss places or people so much that it causes excessive anxiety.

Sibling Rivalry Disorder - When sibling rivalry begins to have affects on the
marriage or other areas of life, it may be a sign of a bigger problem.

Selective Mutism - Is a severe anxiety disorder that causes children who can
communicate normally to "freeze up" in public or unfamiliar situations.

Reactive Attachment Disorder of Infancy or Early Childhood - When a

child's physical and emotional needs are neglected and they begin to have social
interaction problems, this disorder may be affecting them.

Stereotypic Movement Disorder -Nonfunctional and repetitive motor behavior

in children may be a sign of stereotypic movement disorder.

Unspecified Disorder of Infancy, Childhood or Adolescence - Symptoms

appearing from several of the above disorders that can't be pinned down to one
specific type are said to be unspecified disorder of infancy, childhood or adolescence.

Conclusion:

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