Neuropsychiatric challenges
Although many neuropsychiatric (nepsy) challenges have distinct symptoms and traits, each person is their own individual. No disease or syndrome categorises a person in a particular mould.
Neuropsychiatric challenges are due to structural and functional abnormalities in brain function. Neuropsychiatric difficulties include ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, developmental language disorder and Tourette syndrome.
Increasing awareness on neuropsychiatric challenges is important so that people can get help for their daily life if necessary and prejudices in society are reduced.
What does autism spectrum disorder mean?
The word autism spectrum describes the diversity, individuality and variability of functional capacity in autism. As diagnostics has developed, the image of autism has also changed. The ICD-11 classification introduced in Finland in 2023–2026 updates the previous separate autism spectrum disorders (e.g. childhood autism and Asperger syndrome) under one umbrella diagnosis, autism spectrum disorder.
Although it’s known that autism is caused by different brain development, not all the underlying causes are known. However, it’s likely that there are both genetic and environmental factors that together affect the formation and manifestation of autism.
How does autism manifest itself?
Autism manifests itself in human interactions and the way in which you sense and experience the world around you. Although every person on the autism spectrum is an individual, there are also common and recognisable traits. However, their impact and manifestation are individual. Such traits include:
- Difficulties in social relations, especially interaction and communication.
- Individual and non-standard way of interpreting information transmitted by the senses.
- Abnormally severe strain on the nervous system and increase in the level of stress.
- Difficulties in executive functions, such as starting and completing various everyday activities.
- Difficulties in anticipating or planning the future or in perceiving the time needed to do something.
Difficulties in remembering instructions, orders or prompts, especially if several are issued at a rapid pace.
Behaviour that seems stubborn, self-motivated or indifferent can be a sign of challenges in executive functions, but foresight and structuring activities can help with these challenges.
Where can I find help and support?
A person on the autism spectrum can receive help for executive function challenges through rehabilitation, the purpose of which is to support and maintain functional capacity. Key aspects of rehabilitation include adequate support for everyday life, modifying the environment to support functional capacity, strengthening a positive self-image and self-esteem, and utilising the person’s strengths and special interests. The need for rehabilitation varies at different stages of development and life.
Support for everyday life on the autism spectrum can be obtained from health care or, for example, the Finnish Autism Association.
Did you know?
Autism involves a lot of strengths and resources. These include good concentration, precision, fairness, ability to perceive details and solve complex problems, and special talent or skills in a specific matter.
What does ADHD mean and what are its symptoms?
ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, is a developmental neuropsychiatric disorder that impairs functional capacity. The prevalence of ADHD is estimated to be 4–7 per cent in children and young people and 2–3 per cent in adults. An ADHD diagnosis is more common among boys than girls, but it has been observed that girls’ ADHD is more likely to remain unidentified. The prevalence of ADHD in adults is also higher in men than in women.
It’s common that within a family, both a parent and a child have ADHD, as the genetic factor on its prevalence is significant. Symptoms of ADHD include:
- Difficulties in concentration and attention: The person may have difficulties listening to others. They may be easily disturbed by various stimuli or fall deep into their own thoughts and actions.
- Short attention span, impatience, impulsiveness: It may be difficult for the person to control their whims, and they move quickly from one thing to another. It’s typical that their actions take place before the person has had time to think about the matter further. It may be difficult for them to wait for their turn, which may be reflected in speaking on top of others.
- Restlessness and hyperactivity: The person may be in uninterrupted motion, for example, waving their hands or feet nervously. Staying still is difficult, as you feel constantly restless.
Environmental disturbances, motivation and alertness in the affect the occurrence and intensity of symptoms, and they occur in different ways at different ages. Difficulties in regulating social skills and emotions may also be related to ADHD. The symptoms of ADHD may make studying and working more difficult.
Did you know?
ADD is no longer a separate diagnosis, but one of the three forms of ADHD.
Other disorders or diseases often occur simultaneously with ADHD, such as sleeping difficulties, learning difficulties, autism spectrum disorders, behavioural disorders, depression or anxiety disorders. The risk of an eating disorder in girls and women is also higher. For those diagnosed with ADHD, the risk of substance abuse disorder is 2–3 times higher than for the normal population.
Key treatments for living with ADHD include various support measures, psychosocial therapies and pharmacotherapy. The earlier the person receives help and support, the less ADHD impairs other health, relationships, studies and work.
Acquired difficulty concentrating, attention deficit trait, ADT
Various concentration difficulties are very common, and they are far from always caused by illness or syndrome.
Acquired difficulty concentrating, or ADT, refers to a condition that arises during a long and stressful period during which a person has not been able to recover. This may be caused by, for example, the busy years of life, demanding periods in studies or work, or excessive use of smart devices. This is not a medical diagnosis, although the symptoms resemble the symptoms of ADHD.
To get rid of ADT, you need to change your procedures – you have to teach your brain to calm down again. It’s important to learn to focus on the essentials and avoid multitasking and constant looking at your phone. You should also pay attention to a regular life rhythm and healthy habits. Compassionate attitudes towards yourself are also important here. For more tips, visit the Mental Hub website, for example.
What does developmental language disorder mean?
Developmental language disorder was previously known as linguistic special difficulty (dysphasia). This means that the development of the child’s language is delayed or progresses abnormally compared to other developments. According to the Finnish Brain Association, approximately seven per cent of Finnish children have developmental language disorders, and this is more common amongst boys than girls.
Developmental language disorders affect the lives of some 270,000 Finns. Often, the cause of a developmental language disorder is the child’s genome. However, the background mechanisms that cause it are not yet sufficiently known. Parents cannot cause a developmental language disorder to their child. However, it should be acknowledged that support in the immediate environment may either strengthen or weaken the child’s linguistic learning and functional capacity.
How does a developmental language disorder manifest?
A child’s developmental language disorder often manifests itself in that the learning of words is slow, the first words come late or the words they have already learned stop being used. The child may have difficulties forming phrases of words, which makes it difficult to talk about things. On the other hand, their narrative may be very abundant, but it’s difficult for the child to build an coherent whole from it. The child may also be almost non-verbal for years.
Developmental language disorders may be associated with, for example, clumsiness and attention disorders. Social situations also become more difficult if it’s difficult to understand social rules or speech or the use of language in interactive situations is challenging.
With age, the symptoms of a developmental language disorder often change – speech becomes clearer gradually and everyday language management develops. However, understanding long and complex sentences, both verbally and in writing, may still cause difficulties, as well as expressing one’s own thoughts, observations and knowledge.
