Infant motor delay and early symptomatic syndromes eliciting neurodevelopmental clinical examinations in Japan

Hatakenaka, Y., Kotani, H., Yasumitsu-Lovell, K., Suzuki, K., Fernell, E. and Gillberg, C. (2016) Infant motor delay and early symptomatic syndromes eliciting neurodevelopmental clinical examinations in Japan. Pediatric Neurology, 54, pp. 55-63. (doi: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2015.09.008) (PMID:26706480)

Abstract

Background: Abnormalities of early motor development have been reported in autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, intellectual developmental disorder, developmental coordination disorder, and other Early Symptomatic Syndromes Eliciting Neurodevelopmental Clinical Examinations (ESSENCE). However, few studies have been conducted with a view to following up a clinically representative cohort of children coming for assessment of motor delay before age two years. We performed a prospective clinical cohort study to examine whether or not early motor delay is often an indication of ESSENCE. Methods: The sample comprised a one-year cohort of all children who came to a Japanese neurodevelopmental center before their second birthday because of delayed or abnormal gross motor development. The children were followed up from the ESSENCE viewpoint. Results: Of the 30 children, 28 (18 boys and 10 girls) (93%) were given diagnoses subsumed under the ESSENCE umbrella. Of the 15 children with an identified or strongly suspected etiology, 13 (8 boys and 5 girls) (87%) had ESSENCE disorders or symptoms. Of the 15 children without a known etiology, all had ESSENCE disorders or symptoms. Conclusion: This study indicated that the vast majority of children with motor delay or abnormality in the first two years of life meet criteria for a disorder within the group of ESSENCE at follow-up; this means that young children, presenting with motor problems always need a broad clinical assessment, not just related to motor function, and systematic follow-up.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Gillberg, Professor Christopher
• Authors: Hatakenaka, Y., Kotani, H., Yasumitsu-Lovell, K., Suzuki, K., Fernell, E., and Gillberg, C.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Mental Health and Wellbeing
• Journal Name: Pediatric Neurology
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 0887-8994
• ISSN (Online): 1873-5150
• Published Online: 02 October 2015