Neurodevelopmental Disorders, also known as NDDS, are some mental health problems that begin early in life. They usually start appearing before or when a kid starts school, as an individual’s brain starts developing at this time. Neurological disorders are noticeable when the child exhibits specific behavioral patterns and emotional deregulation. The child cannot learn and retain knowledge, making getting a formal education like a regular person challenging.
Detecting and tackling neurodevelopmental disorders through mental health counselling early on is highly beneficial. Although these disorders impact the brain’s growth tendency, communication skills, thinking capabilities, and motor skills, they are manageable through mental health counselling.
Issues Associated with Neurodevelopmental Disorders
The knowledge and information about neurodevelopmental disorders are not extensive in Pakistan. People from the underprivileged areas and rural setups usually have no idea what these disorders are. The symptoms are mostly misdiagnosed, and the doctors treat them with medication and traditional treatment options. The lack of awareness is the main reason these problems aggravate.
The cultural stigma associated with mental health issues is yet another reason that forces parents to stay quiet about the problems their kids face. They think they will be discriminated against and their children will be treated differently when others find out about their conditions. This further delays diagnosis; it’s already too late when the final identification is made.
Developmental therapists must start early to make their therapies effective. Qualified professionals specializing in their respective areas, including speech pathologists, psychologists, conflict resolvers, and special educators, have distinguishable skills to assist their patients.
A primary reason why such kids don’t get the much-needed attention is the lack of knowledge regarding the neurodevelopmental issues and how crucial it is to provide early assistance and counselling to them. Lack of awareness educational barrior leads to this delay.
Signs Of Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Kids
One major problem associated with these disorders in kids is figuring out whether the kid has such problems or not. Some major signs of these disorders that should not be ignored include:
- Inability of the infant or toddler to showcase certain developmental milestones, including sitting, holding objects, pointing at things, crawling and standing without support.
- Not responding to stimuli despite clarity is another sign of possible neurodevelopmental disorders.
- Not wanting to reach for an interesting object or showing no interest in a new thing.
- Not giving smiles to parents and showing a lack of interest in reading to them.
- Not imitating actions and not repeating words.
These are some simple signs that a child may have neurodevelopmental disorders. Parents should not avoid them but rather contact a psychologist as soon as they start observing their children.
Major Types of Neurodevelopmental Disorders
These are some of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders:
Autism
The most commonly known NDD that most people are aware of is the Autism spectrum. It is categorised by social and communication impairments. An individual dealing with autism finds it difficult to interact with others in a social setup. He also has massive barriers when it comes to communication. Alongside this, the most common behavior pattern of an Autistic kid is repetition of behaviors.
Autism is not as simple as it may appear. Instead, it comes with various types including classic autism, Asperger’s syndrome, PDD-NOS, CDD and Rett syndrome.
Alwadei syndrome
Another type of NDD is Alwadei syndrome, and it features delayed psychomotor development. It also showcases intellectual disability and developmental delays.
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Also known as ADHD, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, is a neurodevelopmental disorder that starts showcasing its signs in childhood and usually worsens as the child grows up. This disorder mainly showcases itself in the impulsive behavior of the individual, hyperactivity or even inattention. Recognising and managing it is necessary at the earliest possible time to ensure it doesn’t escalate to extensive levels.
22q13 deletion syndrome
The 22q13 deletion syndrome is an intricate genetic disorder that involves developmental delay, seizures and even distortion of physical features. It can also impact the speech and pain sensitivity of the individual.
There are numerous other Neurodevelopmental disorders apart from these mentioned ones. These disorders are mainly linked to genetics, environment and neurological factors. Earlier detection and management are necessary to keep them in check.
Benefits of Early Intervention
Early intervention and management of these disorders through mental health counselling helos in:
- Early intervention manages and reduces the severity of these disorders as the individual grows up.
- Professional mental health experts help sufferers from NDDS with various exercises that let them increase their brain’s flexibility.
- Kids with these disorders require early counselling for them to be able to live a life that is least dependent on others.
- As kids with these disorders find it difficult to put their thoughts across, early detection and counselling train them to be better communicators.
- Early detection and counselling help these kids have a better relationship with their peers by being more emotionally regulated and participatory.
- Counselling helps them become somewhat independent, and they are able to solve their problems themselves rather than being dependent on someone else.
Final Thoughts
The importance of early intervention for neurodevelopmental diseases cant be ignored. On-time counselling that is consistent and regular showcases great results. A lot of times, it helps the individuals manage his mental health conditions independently, on his own. It is important to understand that these problems have nothing to do with parenting and upbringing. Rather, they arise owing to an abnormal event in the foetal/neonatal developmental.
Expert psychologists and psychiatrists at Sehatyab help kids with these mental health issues and provide them early counselling that lets them manage their problems on their own. Consistent therapies and counselling is surely a great way to live a normal life once they turn adults.
