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Developmental Disabilities What are developmental disabilities? What are the different types of developmental disabilities? What are the treatments for developmental disabilities? Where can I get more information on developmental disabilities? What are developmental disabilities? Developmental disabilities are birth defects related to a problem with how a body part or body system works. They may also be known as functional birth defects. Many of these conditions affect multiple body parts or systems. Developmental disabilities are a diverse group of severe chronic conditions that are due to mental and/or physical impairments. People with developmental disabilities have problems with major life activities such as language, mobility, learning, self-help, and independent living. Developmental disabilities begin anytime during development up to 22 years of age and usually last throughout a person’s lifetime. Language Mobility Learning Self-help Independent living. What are the different types of developmental disabilities? Nervous system disabilities These are birth defects that affect the functioning of the brain, spinal cord, and nervous system, which can impact intelligence and learning. These conditions can also cause problems such as behavioral disorders, speech or language difficulties, convulsions, and movement disorders. Some of the common nervous system disabilities include: * Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDDs) - The term IDDs describes a certain range of scores on an IQ (intelligence quotient) test. IDDs can result from a number of different conditions, including (but not limited to): o Down syndrome - a set of mental and physical characteristics related to having an extra copy of Chromosome 21. o Fragile X syndrome- the most common inherited form of IDDs caused by a defect in a specific part of the Fragile X Mental Retardation-1 gene that causes the body to produce low amounts or none of a certain protein. Without the protein, the brain doesn’t develop normally. * Autism Spectrum Disorders - a range of problems that can affect a person's communication skills, social skills, and intelligence. Because autism is diagnosed on a spectrum, people with this condition can have mild symptoms or severe symptoms; but they all have a type of autism. Sensory-related disabilities Sensory-related problems are often a key part of complex birth defect patterns. For instance: * Children with congenital rubella are likely to be deaf, and to develop cataracts of the eyes. * Children with Williams syndrome have trouble seeing spatial relationships between objects around them. * Those with Fragile X syndrome are often very sensitive to loud noises; they may overreact or have outbursts in reaction to such sounds. Metabolic Disorders This group of functional birth defects affects a person's metabolism, which is the way the body builds up, breaks down, and otherwise processes the materials it needs to function. For example, how your body breaks down sugar to create energy is a metabolic process. Two commonly known metabolic disorders include: * Phenylketonuria (PKU) - a condition in which a problem with a specific enzyme, a protein that speeds up certain chemical reactions, causes IDDs. * Hypothyroidism - a hormonal condition that, if left untreated in an infant, can cause IDDs. Degenerative Disorders Some infants born with degenerative disorders appear normal at birth, but then lose abilities or functions due to the in condition. In these cases, the defect is usually not detected until an older age, when the child or person starts to show signs of loss of function. Some degenerative disorders are the result of metabolic disorders. Degenerative disorders can cause physical, mental, and sensory problems, depending on the specific defect. Rett syndrome is an example of a degenerative birth defect. This disorder, which usually affects girls, is most often caused by a specific genetic abnormality. What are the treatments for developmental disabilities? Many developmental disabilities have no cure, but there are often ways to treat the symptoms. For example: * Children with Down syndrome can often benefit from speech therapy, occupational therapy, and exercises for gross and fine motor skills. They might also be helped by special education and attention at school. Surgery can also help correct heart defects. * People with Fragile X syndrome can get help to reduce or eliminate some of the learning, physical, social and emotional, speech and language, and sensory problems common in Fragile X. The sooner those with Fragile X get help, the more they can learn and the better their outcomes. * There are a variety of treatment options to help with the symptoms of autism spectrum disorders. This may include behavioral, occupational, physical, and speech-language therapy. In addition, educational specialists can help guide the child’s school experiences. * Girls with Rett syndrome can be treated for some of the problems associated with the condition. These treatments generally aim to slow the loss of abilities, improve or preserve movement, and encourage communication and social contact. Treatments may include help from physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech-language therapists. Other options, such as medication or surgery are also effective for treating some of the symptoms of Rett syndrome. * Treatment for hypothyroidism, or underactive thyroid, includes daily oral hormone treatment. * The most effective treatment for PKU is a special diet that carefully limits the protein phenylalanine (Phe). People with PKU who are on this diet from birth or shortly thereafter develop normally and usually have no symptoms of PKU. Where can I get more information on developmental disabilities? Developmental Disorders Developmental disorders, also referred to as childhood disorders, are those that are typically diagnosed during infancy, childhood or adolescence. These psychological disorders include: * Mental retardation * Learning disabilities * Communication disorders * Autism * Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder * Conduct disorder * Oppositional defiant disorder What are infancy, childhood, and adolescence mental health or behavior disorders? Motor skills disorders Pervasive developmental disorders Attention deficit and disruptive behavior disorders Feeding and eating disorders of infancy or early childhood Tic disorders Dyslexia Elimination disorders What is a developmental disability? What is mental retardation? How many people are affected by mental retardation? Other disorders of infancy, childhood, adolescence. How could this be prevented? Encourage children to build their speech skills every day. Encourage children to communicate as much as possible. Encourage children to exercise daily. Teach children social skills every day. Select a language for children that is universally in use, for example the English language. What are various learning disabilities? What should you do before you diagnose a learning disability? Is there a quality English language curriculum? Is the English language curriculum in question-and-answer format? Are there any harmful environmental factors? Encourage all schools, colleges, universities, parents, teachers, and media to impart English language teaching and learning in question-and-answer format. Methods of teaching should be changed. A lecture does not always help. Online teaching can help. English language question-and-answer situation-specific, industry-specific on DVD, videos, cassettes, books, magazines, print newspapers, and Internet can help. If you start now, you will get a good response and good results many years later. Developmental Disabilities What are developmental disabilities? What are the different types of developmental disabilities? Attention-Deficit Disorder (ADD)/Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Angelman Syndrome Autism and Other Pervasive Bipolar Disorder Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD) Cerebral Palsy Down Syndrome Expressive Language Disorder Fragile X Syndrome Hearing Loss Intellectual Disability IsoDicentric 15 Landau-Kleffner Syndrome Learning Disabilities Mental Retardation Neural Tube Defects Prader-Willi Syndrome Phenylketonuria (PKU) Prader-Willi Syndrome Seizure Disorders Tourette Syndrome Traumatic Brain Injury Vision Impairment Williams Syndrome Causes of developmental disabilities What are the treatments for developmental disabilities? Where can I get more information on developmental disabilities? Developmental Disabilities What are developmental disabilities? Developmental disabilities are chronic disabilities that are attributable to mental or physical impairments apparent before the age of 22. These disabilities tend to be life-long and result in substantial functional limitations in major life activities such as self-care, receptive and expressive language, learning, mobility, self-direction, capacity for independent living and economic self-sufficiency. What are the different types of developmental disabilities? Nervous system disabilities These are birth defects that affect the functioning of the brain, spinal cord, and nervous system, which can impact intelligence and learning. These conditions can also cause problems such as behavioral disorders, speech or language difficulties, convulsions, and movement disorders. Some of the common nervous system disabilities include: * Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDDs) - The term IDDs describes a certain range of scores on an IQ (intelligence quotient) test. IDDs can result from a number of different conditions, including (but not limited to): o Down syndrome - a set of mental and physical characteristics related to having an extra copy of Chromosome 21. o Fragile X syndrome- the most common inherited form of IDDs caused by a defect in a specific part of the Fragile X Mental Retardation-1 gene that causes the body to produce low amounts or none of a certain protein. Without the protein, the brain doesn’t develop normally. * Autism Spectrum Disorders - a range of problems that can affect a person's communication skills, social skills, and intelligence. Because autism is diagnosed on a spectrum, people with this condition can have mild symptoms or severe symptoms; but they all have a type of autism. Sensory-related disabilities Sensory-related problems are often a key part of complex birth defect patterns. For instance: * Children with congenital rubella are likely to be deaf, and to develop cataracts of the eyes. * Children with Williams syndrome have trouble seeing spatial relationships between objects around them. * Those with Fragile X syndrome are often very sensitive to loud noises; they may overreact or have outbursts in reaction to such sounds. Metabolic Disorders This group of functional birth defects affects a person's metabolism, which is the way the body builds up, breaks down, and otherwise processes the materials it needs to function. For example, how your body breaks down sugar to create energy is a metabolic process. Two commonly known metabolic disorders include: * Phenylketonuria (PKU) - a condition in which a problem with a specific enzyme, a protein that speeds up certain chemical reactions, causes IDDs. * Hypothyroidism - a hormonal condition that, if left untreated in an infant, can cause IDDs. Degenerative Disorders Some infants born with degenerative disorders appear normal at birth, but then lose abilities or functions due to the in condition. In these cases, the defect is usually not detected until an older age, when the child or person starts to show signs of loss of function. Some degenerative disorders are the result of metabolic disorders. Degenerative disorders can cause physical, mental, and sensory problems, depending on the specific defect. Rett syndrome is an example of a degenerative birth defect. This disorder, which usually affects girls, is most often caused by a specific genetic abnormality. Causes of developmental disabilities There are many social, environmental and physical causes of developmental disabilities, although for some a definitive cause may never be determined. Common factors causing developmental disabilities include: * Brain injury or infection before, during or after birth; * Growth or nutrition problems (prenatally, perinatally, or postnatally); * Abnormalities of chromosomes and genes; * Birth long before the expected birth date - also called extreme prematurity; * Poor maternal diet and absent or minimal health care; * Drug abuse during pregnancy, including alcohol intake and smoking; * Drug-related prenatal develpmental insult, such as thalidomide; * severe physical maltreatment (child abuse), which may have caused brain injury and which can adversely effect a child's learning abilities and socio-emotional development; * An autism spectrum disorder. What are the treatments for developmental disabilities? Many developmental disabilities have no cure, but there are often ways to treat the symptoms. For example: * Children with Down syndrome can often benefit from speech therapy, occupational therapy, and exercises for gross and fine motor skills. They might also be helped by special education and attention at school. Surgery can also help correct heart defects. * People with Fragile X syndrome can get help to reduce or eliminate some of the learning, physical, social and emotional, speech and language, and sensory problems common in Fragile X. The sooner those with Fragile X get help, the more they can learn and the better their outcomes. * There are a variety of treatment options to help with the symptoms of autism spectrum disorders. This may include behavioral, occupational, physical, and speech-language therapy. In addition, educational specialists can help guide the child’s school experiences. * Girls with Rett syndrome can be treated for some of the problems associated with the condition. These treatments generally aim to slow the loss of abilities, improve or preserve movement, and encourage communication and social contact. Treatments may include help from physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech-language therapists. Other options, such as medication or surgery are also effective for treating some of the symptoms of Rett syndrome. * Treatment for hypothyroidism, or underactive thyroid, includes daily oral hormone treatment. * The most effective treatment for PKU is a special diet that carefully limits the protein phenylalanine (Phe). People with PKU who are on this diet from birth or shortly thereafter develop normally and usually have no symptoms of PKU. Where can I get more information on developmental disabilities? Here are further guidelines. |