Numerous types of diseases or disorders are associated with hyperactivity. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, hyperactivity is a state of excessive muscle activity or a situation in which a...
Life begins when the fusion of an egg and sperm forms a single cell, which contains the DNA blueprint required to grow and develop into a complex organism. Almost all human cells contain a pair of each of 23 chromosomes--very large stretches of...
Sex-linked disorders, also known as X-linked diseases, refer to defects in the X chromosome that are inherited and cause certain diseases. According to MedlinePlus, X-linked diseases typically are most severe in males as they only have one X...
Premature ovarian failure, sometimes referred to as premature menopause, refers to the loss of normal ovarian function before the age of 40. Ovarian failure can mean that the body cannot produce eggs or cannot produce the normal amounts of the...
According to the National Institutes of Health, developmental disabilities refer to disorders in which there are birth defects related to how part, or parts, of the body develops. Autism disorder, Asperger's syndrome, and Down syndrome are some of...
The brain produces melatonin after sunset to stimulate and regulate your child's sleep cycle. An article published in the April 2009 issue of the "Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine" shows that melatonin helped children with autism and fragile X...
Babies grow and develop at different rates. However, when babies don't reach accepted milestones or appear different looking at birth, further evaluation from medical professionals is in order. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics'...
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...
Health professionals with Autism Speaks report that an estimated 44 percent to 83 percent of autistic children struggle with sleep problems, such as insomnia. Treatment with melatonin supplements may help children with autism fall asleep more...
Genetic diseases are caused by gene mutations that lead to abnormalities or deficiencies of necessary proteins or enzymes. This, in turn, makes the tissues or organs dysfunctional. Some genetic disorders result from spontaneous mutations during...
Genetic diseases occur when there is a variation or alteration in a gene. Causes of genetic abnormalities include environmental, congenital and gene mutation within the cell that can occur at random. Inherited genetic diseases require a specific...
Developmental disabilities are birth defects that are enduring impairments to physical or cognitive functioning. Individuals with a developmental disability may have difficulty with learning, language, coordinating body movements, mobility and...
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, is one of the more common neurobehavioral disorders affecting children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The rate of ADHD is the United States is steadily increasing....
Acetyl L-carnitine is a naturally occurring molecule that exists in a variety of plants and animals. Health companies also sell it as a dietary supplement. It's one form of another molecule known as L-carnitine, which helps the human body convert...
Insomnia affects about 4 percent of children, according to a 2009 survey in "Sleep Medicine." Many kids receive sleeping pills to help them cope with sleep disorders. Hypnotic drugs, however, often cause unwanted side effects including daytime...
Sensory integration or sensory processing disorder (SPD) is the brain's inability to receive sensory input and process it into appropriate reactions. The signals in the brain do not accurately interpret senses. The cause of sensory processing...
Developmental delays occur when a child does not reach developmental milestones, such as rolling over, sitting up, walking and talking, at the same time as other children. There are five main categories of developmental delays: gross motor, fine...
Genetic diseases occur because of abnormal genes or chromosomes. Causes of genetic diseases include mutated genes, chromosome duplication, missing chromosomes and a portion of a chromosome erroneously attaching to another chromosome. Some genetic...
The terms "mentally challenged" and "mentally retarded" are often used interchangeably to mean someone whose general intellectual functioning is significantly sub-average. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders...
When a child is mentally challenged, delays in normal development are experienced. The level of impairment can be mild, with the child having an IQ between 52 and 69. In more severe cases, the IQ can be as low as 20 to 35, according to the "Merck...
Babies and children not developing as quickly as their peers may suffer from developmental delays. For example, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that a 3-year-old with limited interest in toys or who does not follow simple...
This is one of the most common causes of early menopause; in fact, up to two thirds of women going through early menopause have an autoimmune disorder. The disorder causes your immune system to attack itself with its own antibodies. The antibodies...
While there is no one cure or prevention of autism, genetics and environmental factors seem to increase the risk of autism. Autism is a spectrum of developmental disabilities that cause social, behavioral and communication problems. There is hope...
Laughter is defined as the act of “making sounds from the throat while breathing out in short bursts or gasps as a way of expressing amusement”, according to the Encarta Dictionary. Studying laughter is difficult since it doesn’t...
Approximately one in every 1,000 women between the age of 15 and 29 and one in every 100 women between the ages of 30 to 39 are affected by premature ovarian failure, according to the American Pregnancy Association. Premature ovarian failure is...
While most children would relax to a gentle back rub or enjoy a game of tag, some children experience everyday touch differently. They are distressed by seemingly normal sensations and can become agitated by sensations that most people would...
Sensory processing disorder, SPD, is the inability to organize the use of the senses. People who struggle with sensory issues can misinterpret just one type of signal—such as touch or hearing—or struggle with all of the senses working...
Sensory integration is the inability of the brain to respond appropriately to sensory input and to use the senses together. Sensory integration or sensory processing disorder (SPD) is often misdiagnosed. It can be hard to tell if a child has...
Almost all human disease has a genetic basis, even those associated with lifestyle choices such as obesity, heart disease and alcoholism. So why do genetic diseases occur in some people, but not in others? The answer lies in the human genome. ...