Disorders Usually First Diagnosed in Infancy, Childhood or Adolescence

Disorders Usually First Diagnosed in Infancy, Childhood or Adolescence

Some people at an early age are found to have mental disorders, these Disorders Usually First Diagnosed in Infancy, Childhood or Adolescence have several sub-categories, 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.

Types and Symptoms of Disorders Usually First Diagnosed in Infancy, Childhood or Adolescence

With such a long list of these types of disorders, the symptoms are, of course, going to vary quite dramatically. That said, here is a look at the symptoms of the various types of disorders usually first diagnosed in infancy, childhood or adolescence.

Intellectual Disabilties 

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 sub-types of this disorder, but they center around an inability to stay focused and hyper-activity.
• 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.

Treatment for Disorders Usually First Diagnosed in Infancy, Childhood or Adolescence

When it comes to treatment of these types of disorders, therapy and counseling are both very valuable tools that can help. Here on GoMentor.com, you can get online therapy by trained therapists who can help with these types of mental disorders. If you're considering treatment, you should definitely consider booking a Free Pre-Session with one of the therapists here on GoMentor.com.

Definition of Disorders Usually First Diagnosed in Infancy, Childhood or Adolescence

Disorders Usually First Diagnosed in Infancy, Childhood or Adolescence are considered the diagnostic category of mental disorders and are generally thought to be present from the time a child is young. Symptoms will vary depending on the exact type of mental disorder, but treatment with psychotherapy is possible.

Symptoms of / Reasons for Disorders Usually First Diagnosed in Infancy, Childhood or Adolescence

• Social interaction problems
• Low IQ and test scores
• Behavior problems
• Trouble learning
• Various physical problems