Current Trends in Neurodevelopmental Disorders: A Thematic Review of Advances and Challenges

Abstract

Neuropsychology is the field of psychology that studies the relationship between human brain and behaviour. In DSM‑5, NDDs are defined as a group of conditions with onset in the developmental period, inducing deficits that produce impairments of functioning. NDDs comprise intellectual disability (ID); Communication Disorders; Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD); Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD); Neurodevelopmental Motor Disorders, including Tic Disorders; and Specific Learning Disorders (Morris-Rosendahl, D. J., &Crocq, M. A., 2020). With advancements in the field of neuropsychology as a varied field, the recent trends and patterns followed in the field are important to consider to be updated about the rising progression in the field of neurodevelopmental disorders. In the present paper, the most recent trends, patterns and advancements in the field of neurodevelopmental disorders namely, Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Learning Disorders (LDs) for the past five years have been studied including but not limited to academia, diagnosis and technology orientation is reviewed as per research with thirty papers as evidence. The paper will give a thematic review about the foreshadowing essence found in the critical analysis of the papers which will elaborate on the research gaps found and the challenges faced along with the progression in the said field. The analysis indicates that there are gaps, criticisms and commonalities in the understanding of the population sample, neuropsychological profiling, shifting perspectives, technological adoption and the academic incorporation in the understanding of the disorders. However, scope for further research is still found in the future directions for most of the papers.