Neuro-Developmental Disorders: Symptoms and Treatment Options

Neurodevelopmental disorders include a variety of conditions that all are a result of abnormal brain development. This can either be due to genetics, environmental causes, or also physical injury. The brain is not like other organs. Throughout your life, it is constantly adapting, growing, and changing. In fact, your brain isn’t even fully developed until age 25. Early in life, the development of the brain is very important and sets in place how it will function throughout adulthood.

What Are Neurodevelopmental Disorders?

Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are multifaceted conditions characterized by impairments in cognition, communication, behavior, and/or motor skills resulting from abnormal brain development. Intellectual disability and communication disorders are the most common types of conditions that fall under the umbrella of NDD.

In order to understand how these conditions work, it is important to learn about how the brain and nervous system develop throughout your early life. An important yet little known characteristic of the brain is its neuroplasticity. This is defined as the ability of the brain to grow, adapt, and change throughout an individual’s life. Neuroplasticity tells us that while issues may arise in some individuals as their brain develops, there is always a potential for growth and healing.

Types of Neurodevelopmental Disorders

There are a few main types of neurodevelopmental disorders including:

• ADHD
• Learning Disorders
• Communication Disorders
• Autism Spectrum Disorder

The severity and type of developmental disorder you experience depends on the area of the brain affected and at what point in life the symptoms begin to arise. If caught early on, the chances for successful interventional treatments are much higher. Treatment can still be effective for adults but it usually requires long periods of time and effort to achieve.

How We Treat Nuero-developmental Disorders

Some of the disorders included in this classification can be completely resolved by the proper interventions. Others are chronic, but adequate and personalized treatments are nevertheless essential because it is possible to alleviate the symptoms associated with the disorder if they are treated properly.

Some of the most common methods of treatment include:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (link)
• Learning/Speech Therapy
• Psychotropic medications
• Exposure therapy

We understand that these disorders are nuanced and require patience and carefully designed treatment plans in order to properly handle. This is why our trained team of psychiatrists work on each case personally in order to ensure that each patient receives treatment that is tailored to their needs. We only prescribe treatment plans and medication plans based on scientifically-backed evidence and personal interviews we conduct with our patients. This allows us to give you treatment with a caring, human touch. We will keep you informed every step of the way so you can feel empowered to make positive changes throughout the process.

If you or someone you know is struggling with a neurodevelopmental disorder, it is essential to begin treatment as soon as possible. The earlier treatment begins, the easier it is to make adjustments and figure out healthy ways to adapt and grow. The brain is an ever-changing organ, and we are here to help you learn how to fight neurodevelopmental disorders and make healthy progress.