Prepared by Joanne Fritz, C.S.W.
1. Asperger Syndrome
Asperger Syndrome is a developmental disorder that severely impairs an individual's social interaction and creates unusual patterns of behavior. Some individuals exhibit characteristics that are similar to autism, but without mental retardation. Others exhibit characteristics that closely resemble the features of a "non-verbal learning disability." The characteristics of Asperger Syndrome commonly include an inability to feel empathy, one-sided social interaction that is inappropriate and often results in social isolation, poor nonverbal communication and inappropriate verbal communication.
2. Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
Attention Deficit Disorder is characterized by serious and persistent difficulties in maintaining attention, controlling impulse, and, in some individuals, by excessive hyperactivity (ADH(hyperactivity)D). Individuals with this disorder tend both to be highly distractible and to have trouble focusing their attention. These are chronic characteristics that appear early in childhood and do not have other physical, mental or emotional causes. The diagnosis needs to be made by a mental health professional who is knowledgeable about ADD in order to rule out disorders that have similar characteristics.
3. Autism
Autism is a disorder of communication and behavior which is bio-neurologically caused. It may be present at birth or have its onset usually within the first 30 months of life. Autism is a lifelong developmental disability which severely impairs the way sensory input is assimilated, causing problems in communication, social behavior and irregularity in learning.
4. Hyperlexia
Hyperlexia is a syndrome that appears in children. It can have characteristics similar to autism, emotional disorder, ADD, Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD), giftedness, mental retardation, hearing impairment, or Specific Developmental Disorder. It presents the following characteristics: a precocious ability to read words or an intense fascination with letters or numbers, significant difficulty in understanding verbal language, and difficulty in socializing appropriately. Some children with hyperlexia also exhibit the following characteristics: ritualistic behavior and great difficulty with transitions, self-stimulatory behavior, difficulty with abstract concepts, unusual fears, development that regresses after the age of 18-24 months, difficulty answering questions, and selective listening or the appearance of being deaf.
5. Landau-Kleffner Syndrome (LKS)
Landau-Kleffner Syndrome LKS is a rare disorder that occurs in children between the ages of 3 and 7 who are bright and developing normally (although it has also appeared in children whose early development has not been normal). This disorder causes the child to lose the ability to understand others, and then the ability to speak. Symptoms may either appear suddenly or develop gradually. The disorder is also characterized by fluctuations in comprehension and speaking ability, with periods of remission and of deterioration. Another symptom is the appearance of abnormal electroencephalograms (EEGs), with or without seizures. Many, but not all, children develop behavioral problems similar to those of autism. LKS has been treated successfully in children when caught early enough and treated with either surgery or drug therapy.
LKS is very difficult to diagnose, and most physicians are not familiar with it. Since successful treatment depends on the child being treated early and aggressively, it is important to obtain the correct diagnosis from someone who is familiar with the syndrome. For more information on which physicians in your area have treated LKS, contact C.A.N.D.L.E., 4414 McCambell, Montgomery, Alabama 36106. (C.A.N.D.L.E. stands for "Childhood Aphasia, Neurological Disorders, Landau-Kleffner Syndrome and Epilepsy.)
6. Learning Disability
A learning disability is diagnosed when an individual exhibits uneven ability in various skills. This individual usually learns differently from the average person. He or she has average or above average intelligence, but is unable to perform as expected in the areas affected by the disability. When psychoeducational testing is performed by a qualified psychologist, it is found that the individual tests well in some areas and not as well in others. This is commonly known as "scatter," and is a characteristic of people with learning disabilities.
Learning disabilities can occur in a variety of areas: e.g.: reading, writing, math, verbal processing (the ability to understand what is heard) and visual processing (the ability to understand what is seen).
7. Nonverbal Learning Disability
A Nonverbal Learning Disability is one that impacts on a person's social perception and interpersonal relationships. With this disorder, an individual experiences difficulties with spatial orientation, body image, recognizing facial expression, social interaction, problem solving, and independence. The individual does not learn social skills well from observation, but needs to be taught these skills explicitly.
8. Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD)
A diagnosis of PDD is made when a child is found to have developmental delays, but does not exhibit the characteristics of more specific developmental disorders.
9. Prader-Willi Syndrome
Prader-Willi syndrome is caused by a birth defect. It is usually characterized by mental retardation, lack of both balance and large muscle strength, poor coordination, and strabismus ("lazy eye"). Additional common characteristics are poor muscle tone as infants, abnormal growth (short stature), hypogenitalism (incomplete sexual development), and an insatiable appetite leading to obesity if not controlled at an early age.
Prader-Willi entails a malfunction of the central nervous system. This often creates serious personality problems in late adolescence, including temper tantrums and stubbornness. It is also common for individuals with this disorder to scratch and pick at sores or insect bites, which causes infections when not controlled.
10. Tourette's Syndrome (TS)
Tourette's Syndrome (TS) is a neurological disorder. Its characteristics include tics (involuntary, sudden, repetitive movements) that can be both motor and vocal. It can be coupled with additional problems, including ADD or ADHD, obsessive compulsive traits, learning disabilities, sleep disorders, and difficulties with impulse control. TS is often treated with psychotherapy to strengthen coping skills, behavior therapies for dealing with the tics, and medication if the symptoms interfere with functioning.
11. Williams Syndrome
The characteristics of Williams Syndrome can include an atypical facial appearance; cardiovascular problems; both feeding difficulties and prolonged irritability at an early age; learning disabilities or mild developmental delays; small size for age, hypercalcemia (an excess of calcium in the blood), over-friendliness; small or missing teeth; and low-pitched voice. Children sometimes exhibit a short attention span, hyperactivity, good auditory memory, resistance to change, fascination with spinning objects, perseveration (a prolonged focus on or repetition of a word or a concept to an exceptional degree), and an over-sensitivity to the feelings of others.
There is a physical examination protocol available from the William Syndrome Association (P.O. Box 297, Clawson, MI 48017-0297 phone: 810-541-3630) that should be obtained for the child's pediatrician after the child is diagnosed with the Syndrome. This Association is a good source of additional information, as well.
Joanne Fritz is a certified social worker for Wildwood Programs,
Inc. located in New York's Capital District.
For further information, contact:
Family and Community Services
Wildwood Programs, Inc.
1202 Troy-Schenectady Road
Building #1
Latham, NY 12110
(518) 783-3421
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