What are the common neurological disorders in children?

Human brain is one of the most important and fragile organs in the body. A dysfunction in any part of the brain or nervous system leads to neurological disorders that result in physical or psychological symptoms.

The development of the child’s brain starts when the child is still in the mother’s womb and continues through infancy until adolescence. Most of the brain cells are developed before birth but there are many nerve cells or neurons that are formed in infancy.

Human brain is self-organizing. It selects information for its growth and development. The brain adapts itself to the environment. Experiencing environment with the senses of touch, smell, sight, taste and hearing forms connections in the brain.

There are many neurological disorders. They have various causes, complications and symptoms. Symptoms appear depending on the area of brain that is affected.  For example, cerebral palsy demonstrates more physical symptoms whereas ADHD have greater effects on human behaviour.

Most of the neurological disorders appear during the early years of development and are diagnosed at birth. But some are diagnosed later as symptoms appear when a child misses developmental milestones or has an accident that leads to brain injury.

Causes of Neurological Disorders

The causes of neurological disorders in children are due to different reasons. Some of them include:

1. Genetic Disorders

Some of the children get neurological disorders through their genes by parents. Another possibility is gene mutations which occur at the time of fetal development. This also affects the development of the brain and the nervous system of the child.

2. Neurotoxins

Neurotoxins are harmful substances. They affect the brain development of the fetus during pregnancy. These toxins include alcohol, lead, mercury and certain food additives. They are passed down to the fetus through the placenta. This results in the newborn babies having intellectual or behavioural issues.

3. Hypoxia

Hypoxia is caused by damage to the brain due to low supply of oxygen. It may happen at the time of fetal development. Additionally, the complications at delivery may also lead to this disorder. As a result, the child has intellectual problems. Also the child suffers from other common neurological disorders, for instance, epilepsy.

4. Postnatal Infections

Some neurological disorders are caused due to postnatal infections in children. The most common of these infections are encephalitis and meningitis. Due to this, the children suffer from various symptoms such as memory issues, speech impairments, behavioral problems and other related problems.

5. Injury

Any injury to the brain or spinal cord can also be responsible for neurological disorders in children. The harshness of the disorders depends on the injury and the affected brain area.

Common Neurological Disorders in Children

Neurological disorders are very common among children nowadays. If you notice any such disorder in your child, do take him to a neurologist. Child neurologists are there in every city.  For instance if you are living in Bangalore and looking for neurologist in the city just type in neurologist in Bangalore in Google search and you will find the best results!

Some of the common neurological disorders in children are:

1. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

This neurological disorder is caused when a pregnant woman consumes alcohol. The alcohol is passed onto the fetus and hence it is deprived of nutrients and oxygen. As a result, several organs are damaged. Some of its symptoms include hyperactivity, difficulty to be focused, lack of judgment, intellectual mutilation, learning disability and slow development related to speech, movement and social skills

2. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

This is one of the most common neurological disorders in children and can even continue until adolescents. Children in schools are regarded as naughty when they tend to forget things or daydream in the class. ADHD is a disorder that makes it difficult for a child to pay attention and control impulses. Such children are unable to finish their work and are regularly distracted.  ADHD is caused due to hereditary factors, poor nutrition, substance abuse or brain injury.

3. Epilepsy

This disorder involves seizures. It affects diverse aspects of a child’s life including social behaviour and learning ability. However, the research says that 70% of the children with epilepsy recover from it as they grow older. Epilepsy is caused due to genetic factors, developmental disorders, infectious diseases and injury caused to the brain prior to birth. Other symptoms of epilepsy are sudden unresponsiveness for a few seconds, being alert immediately after a seizure and forgetting a seizure episode.

4. Cerebral Palsy

The most common sign of cerebral palsy is late development. It affects a child’s motor skills. Infants are unable to sit, crawl and walk. This neurological disorder causes children to have difficulty in coordination and movements like standing, walking, eating and even talking. There is no particular reason for cerebral palsy but it is believed to be caused during pregnancy when the fetus doesn’t grow properly or develops a brain damage.

5. Autism

Autism is a neurological disorder which is common throughout the world. Children with autism look at the things around them in a different way as compared to other children of their age.  There is no specific cause for autism, nevertheless, a number of environmental, behavioural and genetic factors may be responsible for this condition. An autistic child may have a speech impairment, challenged social and communication skills and emotional disorders.

6. Dyslexia

Dyslexia is a common learning disability in which children find it difficult to read correctly, spell, write and understand what is written. The exact cause of the condition is still not identified. Children with dyslexia can read to above average levels, if diagnosed early.

Do not ignore any such disorder in your child and take him to a neurologist soon.