Paediatric Developmental Disorders Course

Lesson 1 • Ecological Models of Development

Applies systems-level frameworks to understand family, community, and cultural influences. Prepares clinicians to contextualise findings within a child's broader environment.

Lesson 2 • Developmental Milestone Frameworks

Introduces standardised milestone domains: motor, language, cognitive, and social-emotional. Provides the reference grid used throughout the course for screening and assessment.

Lesson 3 • Genetic and Environmental Influences

Examines gene-environment interactions shaping developmental outcomes. Builds understanding of risk and protective factors applied in later clinical chapters.

Lesson 1 • Surveillance Versus Screening Distinctions

Clarifies the conceptual and procedural difference between ongoing surveillance and formal screening. Establishes when each approach is appropriate within well-child care.

Lesson 2 • Screening Program Quality Improvement

Introduces practice-level metrics for monitoring screening completion rates and referral follow-up. Connects individual clinical skill to population-level developmental outcomes.

Lesson 3 • Communicating Screening Results to Families

Teaches clear, empathic communication of screening outcomes and next steps. Directly supports family engagement and timely follow-through on referrals.

Lesson 4 • Administering and Scoring Screens

Provides step-by-step guidance on parent-report and direct-observation screening administration. Reduces scoring errors that lead to missed referrals or false positives.

Lesson 1 • Synthesising and Reporting Assessment Findings

Guides integration of multimodal data into a coherent developmental profile and written report. Prepares clinicians to translate findings into actionable clinical recommendations.

Lesson 2 • History-Taking and Developmental Interview

Structures the developmental history interview to capture prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal risk factors. Elicits family concerns that shape the assessment hypothesis.

Lesson 3 • Principles of Developmental Assessment

Establishes the purpose, scope, and ethical framework of formal developmental assessment. Differentiates assessment from screening and sets expectations for clinical rigour.

Lesson 4 • Observational Assessment Techniques

Trains structured observation of play, social interaction, and communication in naturalistic settings. Complements standardised scores with ecologically valid behavioural data.

Lesson 1 • Evidence-Based Behavioural Interventions

Reviews naturalistic developmental behavioural interventions and applied behaviour analysis approaches. Equips clinicians to recommend and monitor appropriate intervention intensity.

Lesson 2 • Pharmacological and Complementary Management

Covers evidence-based pharmacotherapy for ASD-associated symptoms and evaluation of complementary approaches. Guides safe, informed prescribing and family counselling.

Lesson 3 • Differential Diagnosis in ASD

Distinguishes ASD from conditions sharing overlapping features, including language disorders and ADHD. Reduces misdiagnosis through systematic differential reasoning.

Lesson 4 • ASD Diagnostic Criteria and Presentation

Reviews current diagnostic criteria covering social communication deficits and restricted, repetitive behaviours. Addresses heterogeneous presentations across age, sex, and cognitive level.

Lesson 1 • Habilitation and Educational Planning

Covers individualised education programme development, transition planning, and community inclusion strategies. Prepares clinicians to advocate effectively within educational systems.

Lesson 2 • Etiological Evaluation of Intellectual Disability

Guides systematic etiological workup including genetic, metabolic, and neuroimaging investigations. Identifies treatable causes and informs recurrence risk counselling.

Lesson 3 • Adaptive Behaviour Assessment in ID

Trains administration and interpretation of adaptive behaviour scales across conceptual, social, and practical domains. Adaptive data drives support planning more than IQ scores alone.

Lesson 4 • Defining and Classifying Intellectual Disability

Establishes current diagnostic criteria emphasising adaptive functioning alongside intellectual assessment. Replaces outdated IQ-only classification with a supports-based framework.

Lesson 1 • Pharmacological Treatment of ADHD

Covers stimulant and non-stimulant medication classes, titration protocols, and side effect monitoring. Guides individualised prescribing decisions across age groups.

Lesson 2 • Behavioural and Educational Interventions

Reviews parent behaviour training, classroom accommodations, and organisational skill-building programmes. Complements pharmacotherapy with evidence-based psychosocial strategies.

Lesson 3 • ADHD Diagnostic Criteria and Subtypes

Reviews current diagnostic criteria, presentation subtypes, and age-of-onset requirements for ADHD. Addresses how presentation shifts across developmental stages from preschool to adolescence.

Lesson 4 • ADHD Assessment and Rating Scales

Covers multi-informant rating scale administration, cognitive testing, and behavioural observation for ADHD. Integrates data sources to meet diagnostic criteria rigorously.

Lesson 1 • Feeding and Swallowing Disorders

Addresses paediatric feeding disorder identification, oral-motor assessment, and safe feeding management. Integrates feeding concerns into the broader developmental disorder framework.

Lesson 2 • Speech Sound and Fluency Disorders

Covers articulation disorders, phonological disorders, and stuttering identification in paediatric patients. Guides referral timing and therapy goal-setting with speech-language pathologists.

Lesson 3 • Cerebral Palsy and Neuromotor Disorders

Reviews CP classification systems, early detection signs, and multidisciplinary management principles. Prepares clinicians to coordinate complex neuromotor care across specialties.

Lesson 4 • Language Disorders and Late Talkers

Distinguishes late talkers from children with developmental language disorder using evidence-based criteria. Prevents under-referral through clear identification benchmarks.

Lesson 1 • Complex Case Formulation

Applies biopsychosocial formulation to children with multiple co-occurring developmental disorders. Synthesises assessment data into prioritised, actionable clinical plans.

Lesson 2 • Transition Planning Across the Lifespan

Covers transition from paediatric to adult services for individuals with developmental disorders. Addresses healthcare, education, employment, and community living transitions.

Lesson 3 • Family-Centred Care and Shared Decision-Making

Embeds family priorities and values into clinical decision-making across all developmental conditions. Strengthens therapeutic alliance and improves long-term adherence to care plans.

Lesson 4 • Quality Metrics and Outcome Monitoring

Introduces clinical quality indicators and outcome measurement frameworks for developmental practices. Enables data-driven improvement of diagnostic accuracy and intervention effectiveness.