The brain is the most complex organ in the human body. It makes trillions of connections which is developed through the interplay among social and environmental factors. With that said, many people today suffer from some kind of neurodevelopment disorder.
What is a neurodevelopmental disorder?
A neurodevelopmental disorder is a condition that involves neurological damage and appears early in a child’s development. Most such disorders appear before a child starts elementary school. They typically impair a person’s ability to speak, learn, socialize and control themselves. They often last throughout a person’s life time. Examples of neurodevelopmental disorders include autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and intellectual disabilities. There is no known cure for these conditions.
Are there any treatments?
Yes, there are treatments. The types vary depending on the kind of neurodevelopmental disorder involved and the deficits it causes.
1) Neurodevelopmental treatment (NDT) is used by speech-language pathologists, physical therapists and occupational therapists. NDT is used to treat conditions like stroke, head injury and cerebral palsy that impair movement or coordination.
The therapist encourages the patient to make certain movements and has them repeat the movements until they can perform them easily. The idea is to build up the repertoire of motions a patient can easily perform.
2) Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a widely used therapy for autism that attempts to discourage undesirable behaviors like rocking or head-banging. The main idea behind ABA is that people are more likely to repeat behaviors that rewarded rather than behaviors that are discouraged or ignored.
In ABA, the therapist works with the patient one-on-one for 20 to 40 hours a week. ABA is likely to be concerned with the patient’s social development, their academic abilities or communication skills.
3) Medications have helped many people with neurodevelopmental disorders. Stimulants, for example, help people with ADHD. Two types in particular, amphetamines and methylphenidates, have helped people with ADHD improve their self-control, attention span, social behavior, and fine motor control. Some of these drugs are quick-acting and last only four to six hours, while others take longer to have an effect, but can last for up to 12 hours.
4) Sensory integration activities help patients make sense of the world around them. Many people with neurodevelopmental disorders are either too sensitive to the world around them and thus become quickly overwhelmed even by such a task as climbing stairs, while others have difficulty noticing and responding to sensory signals. Various types of physical therapy can help patients either improve their awareness of the world around them or learn to screen out stimuli.
Informational Credit:
Information for this article was provided by Courtagen Life Sciences.
