Common Neurodevelopmental Disorders Presenting in a Scottish Community Child Health Service

What is it about?

Community Child Health (CCH) is the branch of Paediatrics that specialises in childhood Neurodevelopmental and Emotional problems (NDEP), such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), developmental delays and common emotional issues. A retrospective review of all patients seen in the local outpatient clinics between June 2016 and May 2017 within an NHS Fife region was carried out. No identifiable patient record was used and no research ethical approval was required.

Featured Image

Why is it important?

A total of 543 patients were seen in 908 clinic sessions, aged between two months and 18 years 6 months (average of 104 months) and 74％ males. The largest age group (47％) was school-aged (5-9 years) children while young people (16–19 years) constituted 6％ of the clinical caseload. The largest cases (46％) were seen in summer, but new referrals peaked during winter/spring (66％). The greatest proportion of patients (78％) lived in the most deprived 60％ (Quintiles 1 to 3) of the community. The commonest NDEPs were difficulties with behaviour (45％), sleep (30％), social communications (27％), coordination (24.5％), sensory processing (22％), LD (19％), ADHD (17％), and speech/language delay (17％).

Perspectives