Summary
Differentials
Common
- Dyslexia
- Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Down's syndrome (trisomy 21)
- Fragile X syndrome
- Tuberous sclerosis
- Autism spectrum disorder
- Fetal alcohol syndrome
- Absence epilepsy
- Social (pragmatic) communication disorder
Uncommon
- Dyscalculia
- Specific language disorder
- Central auditory processing disorder (CAPD)
- Developmental co-ordination disorder/dyspraxia
- Prader-Willi syndrome
- Angelman's syndrome
- William's syndrome
- Rett's syndrome
- DiGeorge syndrome (velocardiofacial syndrome)
- Turner's syndrome
- Craniosynostosis
- Congenital cytomegalovirus
- Congenital toxoplasmosis
- Congenital rubella
- Teratogenic drugs
- Extreme premature birth
- Perinatal hypoxia
- Bacterial meningitis
- Encephalitis
- Brain tumour
- Traumatic brain injury
- Hypoxia/asphyxia
- Congenital hypothyroidism
- Inborn errors of metabolism
- Psychosocial deprivation
- Acquired epileptic aphasia (Landau-Kleffner syndrome)
- Epileptic encephalopathies
- 15q11 duplication syndromes
- 16p11.2 deletion syndrome
Contributors
Authors
Kevin A. Shapiro, MD, PhD
Director of Pediatric Neurology
Cortica | Advanced Neurological Therapies for Autism
Los Angeles
CA
Disclosures
KAS is Director of Research and Therapeutic Technologies at Cortica, a healthcare provider for children with autism and neurodevelopmental disorders. He serves as an advisor to NovoNordisk on studies evaluating cognition and neurodevelopment in individuals with haemophilia.
Acknowledgements
Dr Kevin A. Shapiro would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Jeremy Parr, the previous contributor to this topic.
Disclosures
JP is an author of a number of references cited in this topic.
Peer reviewers
Paul Gringras, MB ChB, MSc, MRCPCH
Consultant in Paediatric Neurodisability
Evelina Children's Hospital
St Thomas' Hospital
London
UK
Disclosures
PG declares that he has no competing interests.
Sandra H. Jee, MD, MPH
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Department of Pediatrics
Research Director
Starlight Pediatrics
University of Rochester Medical Center
Rochester
NY
Disclosures
SHJ declares that she has no competing interests.
Peer reviewer acknowledgements
BMJ Best Practice topics are updated on a rolling basis in line with developments in evidence and guidance. The peer reviewers listed here have reviewed the content at least once during the history of the topic.
Disclosures
Peer reviewer affiliations and disclosures pertain to the time of the review.
References
Key articles
Harris JC. Developmental neuropsychiatry, volumes 1 and 2. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press; 1998.
Baird G, Gringras P. Investigation of developmental delay. In: Rutter M, Bishop D, Pine D, et al. Child and adolescent psychiatry. 5th ed. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Blackwell; 2008.
Bellman M, Lingam S, Aukett A. Schedule of growing skills. 2nd ed. London, UK: NFER Nelson Publishing Company Ltd; 1996.
Reference articles
A full list of sources referenced in this topic is available to users with access to all of BMJ Best Practice.
Guidelines
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: diagnosis and management
- Autism in under 19s: recognition, referral and diagnosis
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