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Is This Normal or Does my Child Have Neurodevelopmental Disorder?
- “Is your kid acting ‘not normal’ or entirely different from his peers? Will these kinds of behaviour still persist when he reaches adulthood?”
In this episode of Our Mental Health Matters Podcast, Dr Lade removes all the worry you’ve been cramming up inside your head regarding your child’s display of quirkiness. Discover the two common types of neurodevelopmental disorders: ADHD and autism. Learn what their symptoms, their causes, and their treatments are.
It’s better to use the term ‘different’ rather than ‘not normal’ for the observed traits of your kid. Dr Lade also advises seeking help from a when you’re noticing not-so-typical behaviour and activities from your kid. There will be challenges along the way, so it’s better to be knowledgeable and understand what he’s going through. In this way, we know how to adjust and adapt to his environment.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Parents hastily decide that their children are not normal and link their kid’s indifference to New Developmental Disorders. A child can be different from his peers and the people in his environment, but that does not necessarily mean he has a new developmental disorder.
- The two common types of neurodevelopmental Disorders are Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and autism.
- Autism has a wide spectrum. “It’s a broad term as used for disorders for kids who have an impairment to their social interaction. They have an impairment in communication. They also have stereotypical behaviour, interests, or activities.”
- ADHD is characterised by inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. The traits are usually seen before the age of 6. Kids younger than 5 usually have this.
- Rather than prematurely categorise the observed traits before going to a specialist, it helps to focus on helping the child and his loved ones be knowledgeable on what they’re going through. It’s easier to cope with what they’re struggling with.
- Diagnosis with a specialist is very important. The specialist goes through the child’s history going back from since he was born.
- Autism will persist all through a child’s life, so it’s better to be ready early on of the challenges the kid and his family will go through. With ADHD, it’s not persistent until adulthood for all children.
- Is there any cause for both of the disorders? No.
BEST MOMENTS
- “I generally tend to advocate when people are not typical like others to say that they’re different rather than say they’re not normal.”
- “With autism, it’s more diagnosed on boys because girls are naturally more sociable and compensate with it.”
- “They can find ways. They can find help from professionals on how to adjust themselves, adapt their lifestyles, and get a life around their struggles and difficulties.”
ABOUT THE HOST
Dr Omalade Amaka Abuah is a Specialist Registrar in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the National Health Service (NHS). She is a medical doctor with a passion for mental health matters in children and adolescents.
Dr Lade aims to reach out to everyone and encourage learning about mental health through the Our Mental Health Matters Podcast. A better understanding of mental health is the first step in helping your loved one cope with mental illness, improve his mental health, and live his best life.
CONTACT METHOD
- Dr Lade's Twitter
- Dr Lade's LinkedIn
View all episodes
By Lade Abuah
4
11 ratings
- “Is your kid acting ‘not normal’ or entirely different from his peers? Will these kinds of behaviour still persist when he reaches adulthood?”
In this episode of Our Mental Health Matters Podcast, Dr Lade removes all the worry you’ve been cramming up inside your head regarding your child’s display of quirkiness. Discover the two common types of neurodevelopmental disorders: ADHD and autism. Learn what their symptoms, their causes, and their treatments are.
It’s better to use the term ‘different’ rather than ‘not normal’ for the observed traits of your kid. Dr Lade also advises seeking help from a when you’re noticing not-so-typical behaviour and activities from your kid. There will be challenges along the way, so it’s better to be knowledgeable and understand what he’s going through. In this way, we know how to adjust and adapt to his environment.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Parents hastily decide that their children are not normal and link their kid’s indifference to New Developmental Disorders. A child can be different from his peers and the people in his environment, but that does not necessarily mean he has a new developmental disorder.
- The two common types of neurodevelopmental Disorders are Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and autism.
- Autism has a wide spectrum. “It’s a broad term as used for disorders for kids who have an impairment to their social interaction. They have an impairment in communication. They also have stereotypical behaviour, interests, or activities.”
- ADHD is characterised by inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. The traits are usually seen before the age of 6. Kids younger than 5 usually have this.
- Rather than prematurely categorise the observed traits before going to a specialist, it helps to focus on helping the child and his loved ones be knowledgeable on what they’re going through. It’s easier to cope with what they’re struggling with.
- Diagnosis with a specialist is very important. The specialist goes through the child’s history going back from since he was born.
- Autism will persist all through a child’s life, so it’s better to be ready early on of the challenges the kid and his family will go through. With ADHD, it’s not persistent until adulthood for all children.
- Is there any cause for both of the disorders? No.
BEST MOMENTS
- “I generally tend to advocate when people are not typical like others to say that they’re different rather than say they’re not normal.”
- “With autism, it’s more diagnosed on boys because girls are naturally more sociable and compensate with it.”
- “They can find ways. They can find help from professionals on how to adjust themselves, adapt their lifestyles, and get a life around their struggles and difficulties.”
ABOUT THE HOST
Dr Omalade Amaka Abuah is a Specialist Registrar in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the National Health Service (NHS). She is a medical doctor with a passion for mental health matters in children and adolescents.
Dr Lade aims to reach out to everyone and encourage learning about mental health through the Our Mental Health Matters Podcast. A better understanding of mental health is the first step in helping your loved one cope with mental illness, improve his mental health, and live his best life.
CONTACT METHOD
- Dr Lade's Twitter
- Dr Lade's LinkedIn