Developmental disabilities usually appear prior to the age of 22 and remain with the individual throughout his life as a chronic condition, notes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC. Tests can be done upon the birth of a child or prior to his birth that will determine the presence of some genetic forms of developmental disabilities. Some developmental disabilities will require the parents to be attentive to any developmental problems or delays in their child.
Basics
The range of developmental disabilities is significant. With some forms of developmental disabilities, a person will have to live out her life under the care and oversight of trained professionals, while others will receive proper treatment early on and be able to live out their life independently. Generally, developmental disabilities can affect language, motor skills, ability to learn, ability to help oneself and live independently, notes the CDC.
Facts
According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, a child or teenager afflicted with mental retardation and developmental disabilities will be three to four times more likely to have mental, emotional and behavior disorders when compared to the general population. The experience of living with a developmental disability can be frustrating, which can cause the person to act out in a negative manner or become depressed.
Causes
Not all of the causes of developmental disorders are fully known, but for most a genetic component, environmental stressor or exposure to toxins are thought to play a role in their development. According to the National Institutes of Health, or NIH, developmental disabilities result from specific birth defects that cause problems in how the specific areas of the person's body functions.
Types
A number of different developmental disabilities affect a person in different ways. These types include Down syndrome, where the person has an extra chromosome; Fragile X syndrome, where the person's body does not produce enough protein for her brain to develop properly; autism spectrum disorders, which affect a person's communication, social skills and intelligence; Phenylketonuria or PKU, which leaves a person unable to effectively use a specific protein; and Rett syndrome, which is a degenerative birth defect usually afflicting girls, reports the NIH.
Treatment
Treatments for people with a developmental disability range depending on the type of disability they have. For those with Down syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, autism or Rett syndrome, many of the treatments focus on occupational therapy, speech therapy, social skills training and physical therapy, notes the NIH. Medication is also a treatment option for some of these disorders. A person with PKU is treated with a special diet to limit the protein phenylalanine, and if this treatment is begun at birth he will avoid the symptoms of PKU entirely, reports the NIH.
