ADHD, or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, is a behavioural condition that makes focusing on everyday requests and routines challenging. In other words it is a group of behavioural symptoms that include inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsiveness.
Individuals with ADHD typically have trouble getting organized, staying focused, and thinking before acting. They may be fidgety, noisy, and unable to adapt to changing situations.
Children with ADHD can be defiant, socially inept, or aggressive.
ADHD occurs in 5 to 8 percent of school-age children and about 2 to 4 percent of adults.
The exact cause of ADHD is unknown, but the condition has been shown to run in families. However, the inheritance is likely to be complex and there is no one gene that causes ADHD.
ADHD can be managed with appropriate intervention, educational support, advice and support for parents alongside medication, if necessary.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges. It often shows up during a child’s first 3 years of life. Many of those with ASD can have delayed or absence of language development, intellectual disabilities, poor motor coordination and attention weaknesses.
Evidence strongly suggests a genetic basis to autism. But it’s unlikely that one specific gene is responsible for autism. It’s more likely that several genes combine and act together.
Appropriate environment and intervention can help the child with ASD to have independent life.
Down syndrome is by far the most common and best known chromosomal disorder in humans and the most common cause of intellectual disability. A chromosomal condition (also called genetic condition) happens when there’s a problem in one or more chromosomes. About 1 in 700 babies (less than 1 percent) is born with Down syndrome.
Each person with Down syndrome is an individual — intellectual and developmental problems may be mild, moderate or severe. Some people are healthy while others have significant health problems such as serious heart defects. Many children with Down syndrome lead healthy, active lives. Down syndrome is a lifelong condition. Better understanding of Down syndrome and early interventions can greatly increase the quality of life for children and adults with this disorder and help them live fulfilling lives.
Cerebral palsy is a group of neurological disorders affecting motor and developmental skills. This condition can cause problems with posture, manner of walking, muscle tone, and coordination of movement. CP is caused by injuries or abnormalities of the brain. Most of these problems occur as the baby grows in the womb. But they can happen at any time during the first 2 years of life, while the baby's brain is still developing. In some people with cerebral palsy, parts of the brain are injured due to a low level of oxygen (hypoxia) in those areas. It is not known why this occurs.
Many children may struggle in school with some topics or skills from time to time. When children try hard and still struggle with a specific set of skills over time, it could be a sign of a learning disorder. Rather than a lack of intelligence or motivation, learning disabilities are processing disorders of the brain. These processing problems can affect skills in the areas of reading, writing, speaking, listening, reasoning or mathematics. They can also interfere with organisation, time planning, memory, and attention.