Global developmental delay (GDD) and intellectual disability are relatively common in pediatric neurology conditions. A retrospective study was designed to analyze risk factors and clinical features in children with GDD at our hospital. No previous data is available on GDD from Saudi Arabia. This study was conducted at king Fahad specialist hospital Dammam (KFSHD) of 134 GDD children (82, 61% males, 52, 39% females), (age 1-9 years). They were assessed by using Griffith Mental Development Scales for (0-2) years and 3-8 years old in locomotors, personal/social, communication, eye & hand co-ordination, performance and practical reasoning. Patients with ASD and non-cooperative behavior were excluded. 75% had developmental delay since birth while 84% had no problem during pregnancy. 22% had birth weight below 2.5 kg. 56% had epilepsy and 57 % had interfamily marriages. 51% were diagnosed cases in the present study. 40% had genetic cause, 25% had metabolic problem, 58% had neuroradiology abnormality and 45% had EEG abnormalities. There a variety of delays in development (speech and language variant, global delay, and the motor variant) noted and are commonly seen in a clinical practice in KFSHD. Longitudinal research beginning in early development will help to understand the developmental domains and neurological comorbidities in these children at high risk for neurodevelopmental disorders.

Objectives: To study the prevalence of seizures in children with GDD and identify the characteristics of such patients; to examine the association of GDD with epilepsy and to determine the effect of certain risk factors on this association. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study conducted at the pediatric neurology and developmental assessment clinic at King Fahad specialist hospital (KFSH), Saudi Arabia. All data were collected by reviewing the electronic medical records of 200 pediatric patients who presented with global developmental delay from February 2016 to April 2018. Results: The sample includes 200 children (113 males, 87 females) aged zero to 12 years. The largest group of participants came from the Dammam region, representing 27.5% of the sample. The prevalence of epilepsy in GDD patients was 56%; the epilepsy and non-epilepsy groups differed significantly in age. The most common type of seizure was generalized onset motor, which were observed in 37.5% of the sample. Problems during labor occurred in 15% of the sample; consanguineous marriage occurred in 61.6% of the participants. Neither of these factors differed significantly in the epilepsy and non-epilepsy groups. Advanced paternal age did differ significantly in the two groups ( p =0.003). Conclusion: The prevalence of epilepsy is high in children with GDD, and of the factors studied here, the most significant variables affecting this correlation are the type of seizure and advanced paternal age.

Background: Sleep concerns are common in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The impact of poor sleep on cognitive performance in ASD children is not well-established. We investigated the possible correlation between sleep quality in ASD children and cognitive performance. The Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) was administered to examine specific components of non-verbal cognition. Methods: The Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) and actigraphy-measured data from 18 children with diagnosis of ASD were evaluated. Motor planning task (MOT), simple reaction time task (SRT) and the intradimensional/extradimensional shift (IED) of CANTAB were administered. Results: ASD good sleeper (ASD-GS) showed significant better response time for SRT task as compared to ASD poor sleeper (ASD-PS) based on CSHQ score. Parameters of bedtime resistance (r = 0.531, p = 0.023), sleep anxiety (r = 0.474, p = 0.047) from CSHQ and actigrapgy dependent (wake after sleep onset (WASO) (r = 0.430, p = 0.024) were significantly correlate with response time of SRT task. Conclusion: We conclude that some signs reflecting the presence of poor sleep in ASD correlate with various aspects of motor output on non-verbal performance tasks. The question is raised whether poor sleep in non-complaining persons with autism should be treated.

Introduction: Global developmental delay (GDD) is defined as a significant delay in one or more developmental domains. Aims and Objectives: To study the prevalence of normal and abnormal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in pediatric patients presenting with GDD, and how abnormal MRI helps in the diagnosis of children with GDD. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective observational study conducted at the King Fahad Specialist Hospital Dammam. MRI of the brain was conducted on 170 patients who were referred by the Pediatric Neurology Department between February 2016 and April 2018. Results: Normal MRI findings were seen in 45.3% and 54.7% had abnormal findings. The ventricles and white matter, mainly the corpus callosum, were the most commonly affected anatomical structures. In 15 (16%) patients, MRI enabled a direct diagnosis, and in 22 (23.6%) MRI suggested a diagnosis which was confirmed by further investigation. Conclusion: The clinical diagnosis of GDD should not be the end point, but rather a springboard for an effective search for causal factors. MRI is the best investigation with a high yield in such patients.

Patient: Male, 3Final Diagnosis: 3-M syndromeSymptoms: Severe growth retardation • dysmorphic features and skeletal abnormalitiesMedication: NoneClinical Procedure: NoneSpecialty: Pediatric NeurologyObjective:Rare diseaseBackground:3-M syndrome is an uncommon disease characterized by severe growth retardation, dysmorphic features, and skeletal abnormalities. Radiographic images may show delayed bone maturation long slender tubular bones, and tall vertebral bodies. Due to the inheritance mode of 3-M syndrome disease, early diagnosis is vital for genetic counseling.Case Report:In this case report, we present the case of a 3-year-old male patient who was referred to our clinic for development assessment due to delayed development, particularly speech, who had clinical outcomes of 3-M syndrome.Conclusions:The aim of the case report is to add this new patient to the literature on 3-M syndrome.