PE3.1-4,PE4.1-2 | Developmental Disorders — Assignment

CLINICAL SCENARIO

This assignment asks you to construct a structured case write-up for a child presenting with a developmental concern — either global developmental delay, Autism Spectrum Disorder, or ADHD — as would be encountered in a Child Developmental Unit (CDU) in an Indian tertiary hospital. You will perform a systematic developmental assessment, interpret screening tool results, formulate a working diagnosis, propose a multidisciplinary management plan, and document a parent counselling interaction. This task develops the clinical reasoning and communication skills essential for managing neurodevelopmental disorders in paediatric practice.

Section 1: Case Presentation

Guidance: Present the case using structured history: demographic details (age, sex), presenting complaint, detailed developmental history (milestones achieved vs expected for age across motor, language, social-adaptive, and fine motor domains), antenatal and birth history (prematurity, perinatal asphyxia, infections, alcohol/drug exposure), family history (consanguinity, similar conditions in siblings/relatives), and socioeconomic/educational background.

Section 2: Developmental Assessment Findings

Guidance: Describe the physical examination (dysmorphic features, head circumference, neurological examination) and the structured developmental assessment findings. If using M-CHAT: state the total score and critical item score and interpret the result. If using DASII: calculate and interpret the developmental quotient (DQ = developmental age ÷ chronological age × 100) for each domain. Specify which milestones are delayed, by how many months, and in how many domains.

Section 3: Differential Diagnosis and Working Diagnosis

Guidance: List at least three differential diagnoses with brief reasoning for each. State your working diagnosis with justification (citing DSM-5 or ICD-11 criteria for ADHD or ASD, or WHO/IAP definition for GDD). Specify relevant investigations you would order (e.g., audiometry, karyotype/chromosomal microarray, thyroid function, MRI brain) and your reasoning for each.

Section 4: Multidisciplinary Management Plan

Guidance: Name each team member in the CDU (developmental paediatrician, speech-language pathologist, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, clinical psychologist, special educator, social worker) and their specific role for THIS child. Specify therapeutic interventions (e.g., ABA therapy for ASD, parent-management training for ADHD, physiotherapy for motor delay). Mention educational entitlements under the RPWD Act 2016 that are relevant.

Section 5: Parental Counselling Summary

Guidance: Write a 150–200 word summary of your counselling interaction. Include: (a) how you opened the conversation (empathic acknowledgement of parental concern and distress); (b) the key diagnostic message you delivered in plain language; (c) what you said about cause and prognosis; (d) what you told the parents about immediate next steps; (e) what resources/support groups you signposted (e.g., AIDE India for autism, ADHD India for ADHD, state-level disability services). Reflect on one communication challenge you anticipated and how you addressed it.

PEER REVIEW

Your peer reviewer will assess your case write-up using the same rubric. Provide written feedback on: (1) accuracy of developmental milestone assessment and screening tool use; (2) strength of diagnostic reasoning — are DSM-5/ICD-11 criteria correctly applied?; (3) completeness of the MDT plan; (4) quality of the counselling summary — was it empathic and information-rich? Give at least two specific suggestions for improvement. Feedback should be constructive, specific, and 150–250 words.