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Resources: Understanding Your Child's Diagnosis

At Horizon Neuropsychological Services, we understand that it can be an emotional experience for parents and caregivers to receive a diagnosis for their child. For some, it is liberating to finally be able to put words to what they have been observing, while for others, it may bring about feelings of sadness or uncertainty. Regardless of your place in this process, understanding your child’s diagnosis is the first step in moving forward and helping him or her become the best version of themselves in life.

It is our hope that you can use our website as a starting place in researching your child’s diagnosis. By clicking the drop-down button next to each diagnosis, you will find a brief summary of the diagnostic criteria, links to resources, and a list of recommended readings. If you do not see your child’s diagnosis below, please contact our office so we can provide you with the appropriate resources and reading materials.

Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Neurodevelopmental Disorders become symptomatic early in development (typically before entering into school), which can negatively impact a child’s social, emotional, behavioral, and academic functioning as they mature, as well as their ability to engage in the workforce and maintain interpersonal relationships later in life.

Intellectual Disabilities

Intellectual Disabilities are a set of diagnoses characterized by limitations across both cognitive functioning (i.e., reasoning, learning, problem solving) and adaptive functioning (i.e., social and practical skills that help one engage with the environment independently). For each diagnosis, symptoms can vary in terms of severity.

Intellectual Disabilities

Intellectual Disabilities are a set of diagnoses characterized by limitations across both cognitive functioning (i.e., reasoning, learning, problem solving) and adaptive functioning (i.e., social and practical skills that help one engage with the environment independently). For each diagnosis, symptoms can vary in terms of severity.

Communication Disorders

Communication Disorders are a set of diagnoses involving impairment in the ability to understand and/or communicate with others. Difficulties may include both verbal and nonverbal communication.

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism Spectrum Disorder is a developmental disorder that affects communication and behavior across school, work, and/or other areas of life. Although professionals can diagnose Autism Spectrum Disorder at any age, symptoms generally start to appear in early childhood. Importantly, while individuals with this diagnosis meet criteria for Social (Pragmatic) Communication Disorder, they also exhibit symptoms in the area(s) of restricted interests and/or repetitive behaviors.

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism Spectrum Disorder is a developmental disorder that affects communication and behavior across school, work, and/or other areas of life. Although professionals can diagnose Autism Spectrum Disorder at any age, symptoms generally start to appear in early childhood. Importantly, while individuals with this diagnosis meet criteria for Social (Pragmatic) Communication Disorder, they also exhibit symptoms in the area(s) of restricted interests and/or repetitive behaviors.

Attention Deficit/Hyperactvity Disorder

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is diagnosed when there are persistent issues with attention/focus that cannot be accounted for by something else (e.g., anxiety, trauma, another medical condition). Oftentimes, executive functioning challenges are also exhibited, such as difficulty with organizing, planning, and time management. Although not always present, some individuals also show fidgety behaviors, hyperactivity, and/or impulsivity.

Specific Learning Disorders

Professionals diagnose a Specific Learning Disorder when an individual demonstrates difficulties in one or more foundational areas of academics that persistent despite intervention. When mild, or when an individual has strong compensatory strategies, a learning disability may not be recognized until late adolescence or adulthood. Within the above context, there are three types of Specific Learning Disorders, as indicated in greater detail below.

Nonverbal Learning Disorder

Professionals use the term Nonverbal Learning Disorder (or “a cluster of right hemispheric deficits”) when they observe an individual struggling with several right-hemispheric functions, such as understanding patterns, relationships, ideas, concepts, mathematics, and fine motor abilities. Nonverbal Learning Disorder is <strong>not</strong> an official diagnosis and is instead denoted under the diagnostic heading of Unspecified Neurodevelopmental Disorder or Other Specified Neurodevelopmental Disorder.

Movement Disorders

Movement Disorders are a set of diagnoses that are characterized by deficits in fine motor (i.e., coordination between small muscles, like those of the hands and fingers) and/or gross motor (i.e., involve movements of the large muscles of the arms, legs, and torso) functions. Some examples include involuntary movement (e.g., tremor or spasms), abnormal posture, slowness, walking difficulty, and stiffness.

Tic Disorders

Professionals diagnose a Tic Disorder when an individual persistently struggles with making an uncontrolled, sudden, repetitive movement or sound that is difficult to control. While Tic Disorders technically fall under the Movement Disorder classification (as seen above), it is important to highlight that Tic Disorders can include both movements and vocalizations. Therefore, for purposes of presenting information in an easy-to-understand format, we have dedicated an entire section to Tic Disorder.

Other Specified/Unspecified Neurodevelopmental Disorder

The diagnoses of Other Specified Neurodevelopmental Disorder and Unspecified Neurodevelopmental Disorder are clinically indicated when a person exhibits characteristics of a neurodevelopmental disorder, but their presentation is complicated. Reasons for this may be that the individual either does not meet full criteria for one or more of the above diagnoses or full criteria are met, but there is a known congenital medical etiology (i.e., the person was born with it) that has caused the neurodevelopmental disorder.

Neurocognitive Disorders

Neurocognitive Disorders are a group of diagnoses that account for decreased mental functioning as a result of a medical condition or event that occurred after birth. Symptoms vary in level of severity from mild to severe in terms of the level of impairment experienced.

Major or Mild Neurocognitive Disorder due to (a medical condition)

Neurocognitive Disorders are characterized by decreased mental function due to a medical condition or event other than a psychiatric illness. Professionals diagnose Major or Mild Neurocognitive Disorder due to [a medical condition] using medical history, physical examinations, and/or laboratory results.

Traumatic Brain Injury

A Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) occurs when a sudden trauma causes damage to the brain. TBI can result when the head suddenly and violently hits an object, or when an object pierces the skull and enters brain tissue. While TBI is classified as “Neurocognitive Disorder due to a Traumatic Brain Injury,” it is important to highlight this diagnosis separately for educational purposes since it is common in the pediatric population.

Traumatic Brain Injury

A Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) occurs when a sudden trauma causes damage to the brain. TBI can result when the head suddenly and violently hits an object, or when an object pierces the skull and enters brain tissue. While TBI is classified as “Neurocognitive Disorder due to a Traumatic Brain Injury,” it is important to highlight this diagnosis separately for educational purposes since it is common in the pediatric population.

Mental Health Disorders

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): “A mental illness is a condition that affects a person’s thinking, feeling, behavior or mood. These conditions deeply impact day-to-day living and may also affect the ability to relate to others. If you have — or think you might have — a mental illness, the first thing you must know is that you are not alone. Mental health conditions are far more common than you think, mainly because people do not like to, or are scared to, talk about them.” Read more from NAMI on Mental Illness:

Read More

Bipolar Disorders

Bipolar Disorders are a set of diagnoses that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity level, and concentration, which make it difficult to engage in daily tasks. Moods typically vacillate between periods of “highs,” such as feeling elated, irritable, or energized (known as manic episodes) to periods of “lows,” such as feelings of sadness, indifference, or hopelessness (known as depressive episodes). Less severe manic periods are known as hypomanic episodes.

Examples of mania and hypomania area generally the same, but vary in their degree of severity:

        • Higher-than-normal energy levels
        • Restlessness or inability to sit still
        • Decreased need for sleep
        • Increased self-esteem or confidence, or grandiosity
        • Extremely talkative
        • Racing thoughts
        • New ideas and plans
        • Easily distracted
        • Taking on multiple projects with no way of finishing them
        • Decreased inhibitions
        • Increased sexual desire
        • Engaging in risky behavior, such as having impulsive sex, gambling with life savings, or going on big spending sprees

Depressive Disorders

Depressive Disorders are a set of diagnoses characterized by persistent feelings of sadness and worthlessness, as well as a lack of desire to engage in formerly pleasurable activities. All people experience brief periods of a “down” mood. However, true depression is more severe and persistent. It is a very serious condition that can negatively affect sleep, energy levels, appetite, information processing, and interpretation of experiences. Professionals can treat depression with psychotherapy, medication, or a combination of both (most effective).

Anxiety Disorders

Occasional anxiety is an expected part of life. Your child might feel anxious when faced with a problem at school, before taking a test, or before making an important decision. Anxiety Disorders, however, involve more than temporary worry or fear. For a person with an Anxiety Disorder, these feelings do not just go away. Moreover, worries or fears can get worse over time and can interfere with daily activities, such as schoolwork, family time, playing with peers, etc.

Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders

There are several diagnoses that fall under the broad heading of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders, all of which share the commonality of obsessions and compulsions.

Obsessions: Continual and insistent thoughts, impulses, or images that are unpleasant and difficult to control.

Compulsions: Repeated behaviors that an individual feels compelled to perform, followed by a sense of relief.

Many individuals struggle with body-focused repetitive behaviors (e.g., hair pulling, skin picking, hand-washing), while others focus on external compulsions (e.g., rechecking locks, aligning toys or items, counting, repeating a task a certain number of times).

Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders

Trauma and Stressor-Related Disorders are a set of diagnoses that are characterized by emotional and behavioral problems resulting from traumatic and stressful experiences, such as exposure to physical or emotional violence or pain.

Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders

Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders are a set of diagnoses characterized by physical pain and symptoms that a person feels, which are caused (or mostly caused) by psychological factors. Medical results and tests cannot explain the symptoms or the symptom severity.

Feeding and Eating Disorders

Feeding and Eating Disorders are a group of diagnoses characterized by maladaptive eating behaviors that result in health and psychosocial problems.

Elimination Disorders

Elimination Disorders are a set of diagnoses characterized by inappropriate elimination of urine or feces, typically beginning in childhood or adolescence. These behaviors may be voluntary or involuntary.

Sleep-Wake Disorders

Sleep-Wake Disorders are a set of diagnoses characterized by impairment in the quality or quantity of sleep an individual receives. Difficulty falling or staying asleep, waking up in the morning, daytime fatigue, teeth-grinding during sleep, bedwetting, recurrent nightmares, and difficulty breathing while asleep can all be signs of Sleep-Wake Disorders. When one or more of these symptoms occur regularly, it can have detrimental effects on a person’s mood and ability to function throughout the day.

Gender Dysphoria

Substance-Related Disorders

Substance-Related Disorders are a set of diagnoses characterized by an overuse of drugs or alcohol, which negatively impacts a person’s functioning across settings (e.g., school, home, extra-curricular activities, time with friends/family). Research shows that substances directly activate the brain’s reward system, which can result in feelings of pleasure. Of note, the specific pleasurable feelings evoked can vary widely depending on the drug and the individual.