[ESSENCE gathers the diagnoses into a whole]

Area of Science:

• Child psychiatry and developmental medicine.
• Neurodevelopmental disorders.
• Pediatric clinical assessment.

Context:

• Children often present with co-existing conditions like ADHD, ODD, tic disorders, DCD, language disorders, learning problems, and ASD.
• Symptom overlap is common across these neurodevelopmental disorders.
• Impairing symptoms typically emerge before age 5, prompting clinical assessment.

Purpose:

• To define and highlight the concept of Early Symptomatic Syndromes Eliciting Neurodevelopmental Clinical Examinations (ESSENCE).
• To emphasize the need for a holistic approach in assessing children with early signs of neurodevelopmental challenges.
• To underscore the predictive value of early ESSENCE symptoms on future mental health.

Summary:

• ESSENCE encompasses a range of neurodevelopmental conditions presenting with shared symptoms in young children.
• Children with ESSENCE are identified due to significant developmental, behavioral, or emotional concerns before age 5.
• A comprehensive, integrated assessment is often lacking despite the complexity of these cases.

Impact:

• Early identification of ESSENCE symptoms before age 5 is a significant predictor of later mental health issues.
• The establishment of specialized ESSENCE centers is advocated for improved assessment, habilitation, and treatment.
• A proactive and holistic approach can potentially mitigate long-term negative mental health trajectories.