What is Childhood Degenerative Disorder? How is is Diagnosed?
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Childhood Disintegrative Disorder (also known as Heller's Syndrome) is a condition in which a child develops normally for 2 years, then begins to lose ground. Previous gains in language and social skills, motor abilities, play, and even in continence are eroded. \n\nHow it is diagnosed\nA. Apparently normal development for at least the first 2 years after birth as manifested by the presence of age- appropriate verbal and nonverbal communication, social relationships, play, and adaptive behavior.\n\n B.   Clinically significant loss of previously acquired skills (before age 10 years) in at least two of the following areas:\n\n          (1) expressive or receptive language\n          (2) social skills or adaptive behavior\n          (3) bowel or bladder control\n          (4) play\n          (5) motor skills\n\nC.   Abnormalities of functioning in at least two of the following areas:\n\n (1)  Qualitative impairment in social interaction (e.g., impairment in nonverbal behaviors, failure to develop peer \nrelationships, lack of social or emotional reciprocity)\n (2)  qualitative impairments in communication (e.g. delay or lack of spoken language, inability to initiate or sustain a conversation, stereotyped and repetitive use of language, lack of varied make-believe play).\n(3)  restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities, including motor stereotypes and mannerisms.
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I don't know but it seems nowadays they diagnose any hyperactivity or problem behavior in kids as ADHD.  Why don't you ask this in the "Mental Health" category?
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Prader-Willi syndrome is a genetic disorder characterized in infancy by diminished muscle tone, feeding difficulties, and failure to grow and gain weight.  You can read more here\nhttp://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/yourchild/praders.htm
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Premorbid personality is most often associated with Parkinson's disease, due to the search for these elements - but doesnt always need to occur that way. Among the professionals it is considered a psychosocial factor. Basically it isnt really a personality ... but is looking at the change in personality before the disease (premorbid) compared to after the disease has progressed. There is hope that by identifying early signs of the disease - such as in this case personality changes - that the diseases can better be caught and controlled early. \n\nIn the case of the use of the word as a diagnosis, this definition probably best applies: "By definition the behaviours associated with personality disorder are evident in early life and persist into adulthood. Their develop-ment against the background of an unre-markable Premorbid personality may well point to either functional or organic illness. "\n\nAgain - the study of behavioral patters before and after onset of an illness.
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Multiple system atrophy is a degenerative disorder characterized by the following:\n    * Progressive damage to the nervous system, leading to low blood pressure when standing, difficulty urinating, and abnormal breathing during sleep\n    * Muscle tremor and rigidity\n    * Slow movement\n    * Disrupted REM sleep patterns\nPlease see the web pages for more details on Parkinson's Plus syndrome (Multiple system atrophy).
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So basically, your child has just been diagnosed with a neoplasm and you're thinking about suing the doctor presumably  for economic purposes. wow.\n\n////\n\nTo reply again: you're saying they misdiagnosed.  have you referred the child to another pool of doctors who drew another diagnose? is there no paraclinical evidence (cat,  rm scans, biopsing, etc) to back the original diagnosis?\n\nbasically, you're saying the neurologist drew the diagnosis out of thin air.
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Has his school suggested there is any reason to be concerned?  If his school has not suggested there is anything wrong, maybe there is nothing to worry about.\n\nHOwever, I'm not trying to alarm you, but your grandson may need to see a doctor.  You are not clear about what you are describing, but your grandson may have a disorder that needs to be addressed.  I don't want to suggest any sort of diagnosis here, but if I were you I'd see a pediatrician.\n\n\nI wish you well in getting this sorted out.
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We talking about Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease...right?\n\n"A history of recent illness and a physical examination, demonstrating the characteristic vesicles on the hands and feet, are usually sufficient to diagnose the disease."\n\n"The diagnosis is generally suspected on the appearance of blister-like rash on hands and feet and mouth in a child with a mild febrile illness. Although specific viral tests are available to confirm the diagnosis, they are rarely performed due to expense and length of time needed to complete the tests."\n\nHope this helps
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I believe that ADHD is both misdiagnosed frequently and that ADHD is missed, and not diagnosed when it should be.  To diagnose ADHD properly several criteria need to be met and a comprehensive evaluation needs to occur.  Comprehensive does not mean visiting the pediatrician for a half hour, saying the kid has a bunch of these behaviors and walking out with a prescription.\n\nI believe that second opinions should be mandatory on an ADHD diagnosis.\n\nBelow I have pasted some information from a report by the University of Maryland Medical Center:\nhttp://www.umm.edu/patiented/articles/how_attention-deficit_hyperactivity_disorder_diagnosed_000030_4.htm\n\nArguments that ADHD is Overdiagnosed in Some Children:\n\nThe popularity methylphenidate (Ritalin) has encouraged some parents and teachers to pressure physicians into prescribing this standard ADHD drug for children, usually Caucasian boys, who are simply aggressive or who have poor grades. In one study of fifth graders in two different cities, 18% and 20% of Caucasian boys were being treated with medications. In one center, after careful testing, ADHD was the actual diagnosis in only 11% of children referred for ADHD and 18% had no disability. Others were simply poorer learners or had no problems at all. \n\nIn one study, children more likely to receive medication were young for their grade, indicating they may have been socially and intellectually immature, rather than behaviorally impaired. \n\nBeing poor and growing up in a single parent household contribute to emotional and behavioral problems. The significant increase in these problems has also paralleled an increase in the diagnosis of ADHD children, who may simply be responding to social and economic problems. \n\nArguments that ADHD is Underdiagnosed in Some Children:\nSome evidence suggests that many girls with ADHD may go underdiagnosed. Research indicates that girls with ADHD are often inattentive but not hyperactive or impulsive. In fact, older girls with ADHD tend to have social problems due to withdrawal and internalized emotions, showing symptoms of anxiety and depression. The inattentive subtype, in any case, may first show up in older children and adolescents. However, according to the criteria, ADHD is not diagnosed in people whose symptoms appear after age seven. \n\nPhysicians may fail to diagnose children with ADHD because they often behave normally in the quiet physician's office where there are no distractions to trigger symptoms. \n\nIn spite of the fact that there seems to be no difference in the disorder among population groups, African-American, Hispanic, and Asian children with ADHD are half as likely to be diagnosed and treated as Caucasian children. By high school, the racial disparity increases to the level that the medication rate for blacks is one-fifth of that for whites. \n\nADHD may also be underdiagnosed in adults. Some experts, in fact, believe that ADHD may be the most common chronic undiagnosed psychiatric disorder in adults.
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You never grow out of it.  It is a neurological disorder and it never goes away.  The symptoms might get less and less with age.
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ADD is a term used to describe a child or adolescent who has difficulty focusing and maintaining attention in academic and/or social situations. Children are sometimes labeled ADD or ADHD if they are very energetic and tend to be disruptive in the classroom or conversely if they are a very quiet child who sits at his/her desk staring out the window or doodling. A child who is chronically disorganized, has difficulty remembering, consistently loses things or waits until the last minute to complete homework or projects may also suffer from ADD. In any event, a consultation with an expert is recommended to obtain a proper diagnosis so that the child can be supported and treated or to perhaps to rule out other types of problems that may be causing these behaviors. \n\nMany people, even those without ADHD, will experience behavioral problems when confronted by upsetting events. In fact, behavioral changes are common, and this does not mean that a person has ADHD. Strong emotions and changes in behavior can occur because of divorce, changing schools, or moving to a new area. \n\nWho Can Help? \n\n\nFamily Practitioner: Family doctors are generally the first healthcare professionals you may turn to for help. They are most likely to know your child, and have an understanding of your family as a whole. You may want to ask about their experience with ADHD, since not all family practitioners treat ADHD. Family physicians are also an excellent resource for therapeutic referrals to local ADHD specialists. \nPediatrician: Pediatricians have specialized training in treating children's illnesses. Like the family practitioner, pediatricians may or may not have experience with ADHD. Because ADHD is most prevalent in children, it is likely that a pediatrician has experience in the ADHD screening process, and can help rule out (or identify) medical conditions similar to behavior or learning patterns of ADHD. In addition, pediatricians will have more experience than a family physician in prescribing medications for children. And like family physicians, they, too, are an excellent resource for therapeutic referrals to local ADHD specialists. \nDevelopmental and Behavioral Pediatrician: A developmental and behavioral pediatrician is a doctor who specializes in behavior and development in children. Acting as a liaison with primary care physicians and other medical specialists, developmental and behavioral pediatricians serve as key members of the multidisciplinary team. They provide comprehensive developmental, medical, and behavioral assessments; education for parents and professionals regarding various medical/developmental diagnoses; and medical management of ADHD and other neurobehavioral disorders. Pediatricians specializing in developmental and behavioral issues have completed continuing education beyond their pediatric residency as required by the American Academy of Pediatrics. \n\nOther Medical Specialists \n\nIn addition to a family doctor and/or pediatrician, there are a variety of medical specialists you may hear about, or talk with when seeking treatment for ADHD. Your family physician may refer you to some of these professionals to help determine whether you, your child, or someone you care about has ADHD. \n\n\nChild Psychiatrist: A child psychiatrist is a medical doctor who specializes in childhood mental health issues and illnesses - including ADHD and childhood depression. A child psychiatrist can help determine whether ADHD is the only challenge a child faces, or if there may be other issues involved. Most child psychiatrists have broad experience prescribing medications for ADHD and other conditions that children often face. \nPediatric Neurologist: A pediatric neurologist is a medical specialist who may or may not have expertise in the diagnosis and management of ADHD. These doctors are usually experts at finding and treating seizure disorders, other nerve-related disorders such as Tourette's Syndrome, and brain tumors. M
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My mom's friend (a child psychologist) swears he can predict ADHD by the way infants move.  He says that infants who will later have ADHD will typically show significantly more "purposeless movement" than is typical for their age.  Don't worry, he doesn't label them ADHD or anything, it's just for his own amusement, really, but from what I've heard, he's usually right about it.\n\nMy mom has diagnosed ADHD in preschoolers (about 3 years old) exactly twice in over 20 years as a practicing psychologist, seeing primarily children.  Both were put on Ritalin, and responded quite well.  Although Ritalin is not approved for use in kids under 6, both of these kids were so out of control that it was actually safer to put them on Ritalin than not to.  They were doing things like jumping off playground equiment and hanging from ceiling fans, and had had stitches and even broken bones several times, despite the best efforts of good parents.\n\nBut diagnosing ADHD in a preschooler is rare.  ADHD is most commonly diagnosed in kids around ages 6-8.  That's when they start to be expected that they sit still in class, and when it starts to be problematic for them not to.\n\nADHD can also be newly diagnosed in older kids and even adults.  There's thought to be a genetic component to ADHD, and it's somewhat common for parents to be diagnosed with ADHD after their child is diagnosed with it.  It's more common for women than men since ADHD has traditionally not been diagnosed in girls as often since the symptoms are usually different (mainly because of different social standards), and the classic symptoms are more often seen in boys.
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it is a terrible disease....nothing to ask dumb questions about..I hope it never happens to you. My mother has dymensia and parkinsons, she has been in either a nursing home or hospital for 5 years, it is a wicked disease
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According to a website I found, Corticobasal ganglionic degeneration is a rare disorder which involves the combination of Parkinsonism and cortical dysfunction.
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Childhood depression and bipolar disorders.
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No one really knows for sure.  It's thought to be a combination of things from the way your brain behaves to the way you were raised.  We just don't know.\n\nI take it you haven't been formally diagnosed.  If not, please talk to your doctor.  There's nothing to be ashamed of and your doctor won't judge you.  Here's a link to help you understand a little of what you may be dealing with:
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Degenerative disease is, in fact not a real disease. It is a process of wear and tear that occurs with ageing in virtually all individuals. It is also referred to as osteoarthritis, arthrosis and spinal arthritis. The joint surface may become eroded and the gristle or cartilage that lines the joint is no longer smooth but pitted. This results in pain and inflammation occurring with movement. In addition to this there is a process of thickening in the ligaments around the joints as well, a gradual deformity of the joint itself rather like the end of a stick that has been hit with a mallet. The result is a splaying out of the joint surface and this edge of bone (osteophytes) causes a characteristic appearance with apparent swelling and enlargement of the joint itself. In addition to these changes, the joint may become inflamed with redness heat and swelling with accompanying pain. Typically the inflammation comes on overnight once the joint is rested and gradually wears off as the joint gets moving.