Causes of NDD



Here at The Kinesis Consultancy, we look and treat the symptoms of Neuro Developmental Delay (NDD) by identifying the source behind of the problem.

The term Neuro-Developmental Delay or NDD describes the omission or arrest of a stage of early development. Every normal, full-term baby is born with a set of primitive or survival reflexes that are inhibited or controlled by higher centres in the brain during the first year of life.

If these are not inhibited at the correct time, they remain active in the body and can interfere with balance, motor control, eye functioning, eye-hand coordination and perceptual skills. They can result in behavioural symptoms such as hyperactivity and hypersensitivity, failure to match performance to ability and frustration.

It is unlikely that any single factor can be identified as a cause. Usually, it is a combination of developmental and also environmental factors which lead to the persistence of primitive reflexes in the older child.

Indicators of NDD are not limited to the following:

Pregnancy

  • Severe stress
  • Hypertension (high blood pressure)
  • Hyperemesis (severe sickness)
  • Placental insufficiency (small for dates)
  • Excessive alcohol consumption and/or drug abuse
  • Threatened miscarriage
  • Severe viral infection during the first 12 weeks, or between 26-30 weeks
  • Smoking
  • Uncontrolled diabetes
  • Radiation
  • Accident or infection
  • Toxoplasmosis

 

Birth

  • Prolonged or precipitive labour
  • Cord around the neck
  • Foetal distress
  • Placenta praevia
  • Breech presentation
  • Caesarean
  • High forceps or ventouse extraction
  • Premature (more than 2 weeks early)
  • Post-mature (more than 2 weeks late)

 

New-born Disorders

  • Low birth weigh (under 5 lbs)
  • Requiring resuscitation
  • Blue baby
  • Incubation
  • Heavy bruising
  • Distorted skull
  • Prolonged jaundice
  • Problems with feeding during the first 6 months

 

Infancy

  • Illnesses involving a high fever, delirium or convulsions in the first 18 months
  • Difficulty learning to dress
  • Adverse reaction to any of the vaccinations
  • Thumb-sucking up until the age of 5 years or more
  • Late learning to talk and/or walk (later than 18 months)
  • Bed-wetting above the age of 5 years
  • Severe allergic reactions
  • History of recurrent ear, nose and throat infections