Paediatric Neurology

Question 1

name other words for disorder.

Answer 1

Disability

Syndrome

Question 2

Give a few examples of syndromes seen in children.

Answer 2

22 deletion syndrome
Fragile X syndrome
Epilepsy
Fetal Alchohol syndrome

Question 3

How are developmental disorders identified?

Answer 3

• Neonatal Health Screening
• Health visitor visits and reviews
• Orthoptist vision screening
• follow up if “high risk” infants
• listening to parents
• opportunistic recognition

Question 4

When is the onset of a neurological disability?

Answer 4

It can be:
Pre-Natal
Peri-Natal
Post-Natal
Evolving process over first few weeks or months of life
Sudden event (traumatic/non-traumatic)

Question 5

Who are key participants in the rehabilitation process?

Answer 5

Parents

Question 6

What are some signs between birth and 3 months that would flag something isn’t quite right?

Answer 6

• difficulties with muscle tone (floppy/rigid)
• large/small head
• jerking of limbs
• inability to feed (poor suck/ coordination)
• excessive irritability

Question 7

From 3 months to 3 years what problems can appear?

Answer 7

• developmental delay
• progressive disorder
• visual difficulties
• disorders of language, communication and mechanics of eating

Question 8

Name this:
Generalised motor and/or cognitive delay
gross/fine motor delay
symmetrical/asymetrical

Answer 8

Developmental Delay.

Question 9

Name this:

The loss of skills or inability to gain skills.

Answer 9

progressive disorders

Question 10

For disorders of language, communication and mechanics of eating, what should we look out for?

Answer 10

• Can’t gain weight
• Speech delay or DLD
• Hearing/ENT disorder
• Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Question 11

name a visual difficulty.

Answer 11

delayed visual maturity

or could be blind

Question 12

What disorders tend to appear from 3-16 years?

Answer 12

• Seizure Disorders
• Neuromuscular Disorders
• Brain Injury- non traumatic or traumatic
• Degenerative conditions
• Neurobehavioural Disorders

Question 13

At what age range do: headaches and neurological sleep disorders, appear?

Answer 13

5 to 16 years.

Question 14

How may a child be referred?

Answer 14

• GP
• Parental Awareness
• Nursery/school
• A and E department
• Health Visitor

Question 15

What is the focus of child development services?

Answer 15

It is centered around the child (and their family) .

Question 16

How are children assessed?

Answer 16

• collation of information from primary care and referrers
• home visit
• paediatrician assessment
• allied health professional assessment
• liason with education services

Question 17

What is essential between professional teams?

Answer 17

communication

Information sharing.

Question 18

What is required in assessment?

Answer 18

• Background History
• Parent/Carer perspective
• Child’s perspective
• Developmental Assessment
• Physical Examination-Diagnostic formulation and targeted investigations
• monitor developmental process over time
• assessment by other specialists e.g. genetics

Question 19

Why should we look for an aetiology?

Answer 19

1. to inform functional impact and prognosis
2. to allow accurate counselling for parents
3. allows appropriate support and early intervention
4. stops further intrusive and possible painful investigations.

Question 20

What kind of investigations are done?

Answer 20

• Invasive/ Non-Invasive
• Neurological examination
• Video analysis
• Diaries
• EEG, MRI scan etc.

Question 21

Name the components of the ICF WHO.

Answer 21

Health Condition (disorder/disease)

Body functions and structure, Activity & Participation

Environmental and Personal factors (aka contextual factors)

Question 22

What are some common problems in children with complex disabilities?

Answer 22

• saliva control difficulties
• feeding problems
• gastro-oesophageal reflux
• mobility problems
• communication difficulties
• pain

Question 23

What are some other issues to consider apart from the childs’ disorder?

Answer 23

• Family Perspective
• Process of adjustment
• Traumatic event
• Bereavment Process.

Question 24

Generally, how can having a child with a disability impact the family?

Answer 24

• Increased stress
• loss of relationships/friendships
• poor parental health
• high level of stress when dealing with service providers.

Question 25

What are some problems when a parent comes to and SLT with their disabled child?

Answer 25

• They don’t understand where we fit in/ what our role is.
• lack of understanding of mechanics of speech
• parent expectations different from treatment plan

Question 26

It is important to view parents as ______ and form a _______ ________.

Answer 26

Equals

working relationship.

Question 27

The diagnosis of neuro-disability in a child has a devastating impact on the ______, their ______, ______ and _______ _________.

Answer 27

Child
Parents
Siblings
Extended Family

Question 28

Diagnosis triggers _______ _______.

Answer 28

powerful emotions.

Question 29

What can vary when it comes to diagnosis?

Answer 29

Parental Reactions to the diagnosis. (good/v. bad)

Question 30

What’s essential to support clinical diagnosis and treatment plans?

Answer 30

knowledge of child development.

Question 31

Good _____ must be established between the SLT and parent.

Answer 31

communication.

Question 32

What is rated highly in parental expectations?

Answer 32

The importance of pleasurable feeding experiences for children.

Question 33

Why is communication between all members of the professional team essential?

Answer 33

In order to have a wider undertsanding of the child’s clinical needs (and family dynamics). Allows you to provide a more hollistic approach to care.