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Although developmental and
behavioral disorders are increasingly widespread, they
are still poorly understood by most of society. The lack of knowledge is further
compounded by the stigma that often accompanies a diagnosis of a developmental
or behavioral
disorder. Parents and physicians can educate themselves and others about the
range of disorders, as well as the opportunities for treatment and intervention.
Whether a child has a developmental delay or disorder, early identification and
intervention are essential for achieving the best possible outcome.
The most common developmental disorder is mental retardation. According to
the CDC, more than one out of every 100 school children in the United States
has some form of mental retardation. Cerebral palsy is the second most common
developmental disorder, followed by autism spectrum disorders.
The following list outlines different types of developmental and behavioral disorders, provides
a brief description for each, and identifies Web sites that may serve as an introductory
resource for parents.
Attention-Deficit Disorder (ADD)/Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder (ADHD)
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of
the most common neurobehavioral disorders, characterized by problems with
inattentiveness, over-activity,
impulsivity, or a combination. For these problems to be diagnosed as AD/HD, they
must be out of the normal range for the child's age and development.
It is usually first diagnosed in childhood and often persists into
adulthood. Diagnosis can be made reliably using well-tested diagnostic interview
methods. Treatment may include medical, educational, behavioral, and/or
psychological interventions. ADHD is a lifelong disorder that can negatively
impair many aspects of daily life if not treated, including home, school, work,
and interpersonal relationships.
For more information, please visit:
Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.
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Angelman Syndrome
Angelman Syndrome is a
genetic disorder in which a gene on chromosome 15 is missing or unexpressed.
Children with Angelman Syndrome typically have developmental delays that are
frequently evident between 6-12 months of age.
Diagnosis can be established through genetic and DNA testing as early as
the first year of life. In affected children, language
comprehension and non-verbal skills are usually more developed than spoken
language and the affected child may have few if any words. Children with
Angelman Syndrome have difficulties with movement and balance. Their behavior
may combine frequent laughter and smiling, an easily excitable personality, hand
flapping movements, hyperactive behavior, and a short attention span.
Associated physical features and concerns, such as seizures, movement problems,
hypopigmentation, sleep and feeding problems, are present in about 20-80% of
children who have this disorder. Many educational and behavioral interventions
have been shown to be effective in addition to physical and occupational
therapies, speech and language interventions, behavior modification, and parent
training.
For more information, please visit:
Angelman Syndrome Foundation.
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Autism Spectrum Disorders
Please visit First Signs’ Web page dedicated to
autism spectrum disorders
where we provide a detailed description of these disorders.
For more information, please visit:
Autism Society of America.
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Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar
disorder (or manic
depression) is a form of mood disorder characterized by a variation of moods
that fluctuate between a manic phase of elation, hyperactivity and hyper
imagination, and a depressive phase of inhibition, slowness to conceive ideas
and move, and anxiety or sadness. Symptoms may be present from infancy or early
childhood, or may suddenly emerge in adolescence or adulthood. Children—whose
symptoms present differently than those of adults—can experience severe and
sudden mood changes many times a day. For a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, adult
criteria must be met through a variety of measures. There are as yet no separate
criteria for diagnosing children. Bipolar disorder is a chronic condition that
can be managed with medication, close monitoring of symptoms, education about
the illness, counseling or psychotherapy for the individual and family, stress
reduction, dietary restrictions and nutritional supplements, regular sleep and
exercise, and participation in a network of support.
For more information, please visit:
Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation
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Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD)
Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD) is a complex and
often misunderstood neurological disorder that occurs in individuals
with normal hearing who have a reduced or impaired ability to
discriminate, recognize, or understand sounds. The symptoms are
highly individual, ranging from mild to severe with many different
causes and expressions. Children with CAPD cannot fully process
auditory information passed between the ear and the brain. They may
have difficulties hearing amidst distracting background noise,
remembering information, discriminating between similar sounds or
words, or listening long enough to complete a task. CAPD may affect
their ability to develop normal language skills, succeed
academically, or communicate effectively.
Trained specialists, such as speech-language
pathologists and audiologists, can assess CAPD using auditory tests
such as behavioral and electrophysiologic tests. Speech-language
pathologists and other educational specialists can provide a variety
of treatment strategies to help children with CAPD work around many
of the receptive, organizational and retention challenges caused by
this disorder. Some children’s auditory processing skills may well
mature developmentally to the point where they become
indistinguishable from other children. Others may have more chronic
symptoms throughout their lives.
For more information, please visit:
American
Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA)
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Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy is a disorder caused
by damage to the brain that
occurs before, during, or shortly
following birth. It
affects body movement and muscle coordination. Individuals with cerebral palsy
may also experience seizures, abnormal speech, hearing and visual impairments,
and mental retardation.
Children with cerebral palsy may not
be able to walk, talk, eat, or play in the same ways as most other children.
Cerebral palsy can include milder versions or more severe symptoms which lead to
total dependency.
Although cerebral palsy is a lifelong condition, training and therapy can help
improve function.
For more information, please visit:
United Cerebral Palsy Association
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Down Syndrome
Down Syndrome is a chromosomal abnormality that changes the course of
development and causes the characteristics associated with the syndrome. Mild to
severe mental retardation can be present among those affected. Speech and
language may also be delayed. The diagnosis is usually suspected at birth due to
the presence of physical characteristics such as a large tongue, heart problems,
poor muscle tone, and flat facial features. The diagnosis is confirmed through
chromosomal testing. The disorder is associated with a lifelong
disability but can be treated through a variety of appropriate educational and
behavioral interventions in addition to occupational therapies, speech and
language interventions, behavior modification, and parent training.
For more information, please visit:
National Down Syndrome Society
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Expressive Language Disorder
Expressive language disorder is a developmental disorder where a child will have
problems expressing him or herself in speech. Characteristics may include
limited vocabulary, difficulty recalling words and producing complex or lengthy
sentences. Children with expressive disorder often start speaking late and
experience delays acquiring expressive language. Standardized expressive
language and non-verbal intellectual tests, and in certain cases functional
assessments, should be conducted if an expressive language disorder is
suspected. Expressive language disorders may interfere with academics and social
communication. Speech therapy and social skills therapies may benefit children
affected by this disorder.
For more information, please visit:
Medline Expressive Language Disorder.
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Fragile X Syndrome
Fragile
X Syndrome is a genetic disorder and is the most common form of inherited mental
retardation. It is more common in boys than girls. Individuals with this
disorder often have distinctive physical features, such as a long face, large
prominent ears and hyperextensible joints. People with Fragile X syndrome may
experience some degree of mental retardation or learning disabilities along with
speech and language delays. In addition, 15-20% may also exhibit behaviors
associated with autism. DNA testing can determine a diagnosis for Fragile X,
which is a lifelong disorder with no cure, but treatable with behavioral and
educational therapies.
For more information, please visit:
FRAXA Research Foundation
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IsoDicentric 15
Isodicentric 15, abbreviated idic(15), is one of a group of genetic conditions.
Most children and adults with idic(15) experience developmental
disabilities. These can range from mild to severe and may be
accompanied by other neurological, physical, and behavioral
problems. Although there are few common physical features,
structural differences such as a flat bridge of the nose (button
nose), folds at the corners of the eyes, and others may be present.
Individuals may also demonstrate hypotonia and seizures. The
disorder is diagnosed through chromosomal blood testing and is
confirmed by a genetic test called fluorescence in situ
hybridization (FISH). Therapies such as physical, occupational, and
speech therapies along with special education techniques are
available to help address many of the symptoms of idic(15) and can
help these children to develop to their full potential.
For more information, please visit:
I.D.E.A.S. IsoDicentric
15 Exchange, Advocacy & Support
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Landau-Kleffner Syndrome
Landau-Kleffner Syndrome (LKS) is a childhood disorder that is characterized by
a progressive loss of the ability to understand and use spoken language,
following a period of normal speech development. LKS occurs most frequently in
typically developing children who are between 3 and 7 years of age. It is often
accompanied by nighttime seizure activity and is typically diagnosed through a
sleep EEG. Some treatments include medication to control the seizures,
corticosteroid therapy to improve language ability, and sign language
instruction. Although language recovery has been reported in some cases, it is
impossible to predict the outcome of this disorder due to the range of
differences in affected individuals and the relative lack of clinical and
neurobehavioral research.
For more information, please visit:
NIDCD Health Information Page - Landau-Kleffner Syndrome
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Learning Disabilities (LD)
Learning disabilities are a group of neurological disorders which become evident
in childhood and which are characterized by difficulty learning, sorting, and
storing information. Usually affected individuals have with average or above
average intelligence. Children with learning disabilities may have one or more
difficulties with skills such as listening, speaking, reading, writing,
reasoning, or mathematical abilities that interfere with academic performance,
achievement and, in some cases, activities of daily living. Learning
disabilities may overlap with other disorders or environmental influences, but
are not the direct result of those conditions or influences. Often these
disabilities are not identified until a child reaches school age. Performance on
standardized tests are usually found to be below that expected for age,
schooling, and level of intelligence. Standardized cognitive measures and
diagnostic tools in addition to observations from education professionals help
to identify areas where these children are experiencing problems. Some children
find learning in a regular classroom difficult and LD classes may be recommended
to help them receive more specific and intensive teaching. They may require
information to be presented in multiple formats and broken down in manageable
chunks before they can completely understand it. Learning disabilities are
lifelong, but with proper intervention, training, and strategies, individuals
can lead successful, fully functioning lives.
For more information, please visit:
National Center for Learning Disabilities
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Mental Retardation
Mental retardation is a disability that occurs in childhood characterized by
substantial limitations in intellectual functioning and adaptive skills. A
person with mental retardation may have difficulties with communication,
conceptual skills, social skills, self-care, home living, social skills,
community use, self-direction, health and safety, functional academics, leisure,
and work. Diagnosis is performed through a) standardized testing; b) determining
an individual’s strengths and challenges in intellectual and adaptive behavior
skills, psychological and emotional considerations, physical and health
considerations, and environmental considerations; and c) determining supports
needed through an interdisciplinary team. Interventional strategies are
delivered by providing resource supports and specific strategies so as to
promote the development, education, interests, and personal well-being of the
affected child, adolescent or adult. Providing individualized supports can
improve personal functioning, promote self-determination and societal inclusion,
and improve personal well-being of a person with mental retardation.
For more information, please visit:
The ARC and the
American Association on Mental
Retardation (AAMR)
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Neural Tube Defects
Neural tube defects are birth defects that involve the central nervous system.
These defects of the spinal cord and/or brain result from failure of the neural
tube to properly form. These disorders may present varying degrees of
disability, including learning disabilities, social issues, lower extremity
paralysis, loss of bowel or bladder control, and hydrocephalus (water on the
brain), which can produce retardation unless it is surgically treated. Spina
bifida is the most common neural tube defect where the spinal cord does not
close over the nerve column during the prenatal period. It may involve loss of
sensation and severe muscle weakness of the body below the level of the lesion.
Although outcomes vary widely, with new medical treatments and technology, many
people with spina bifida can expect to live a normal life, and often have
careers, get married, and have families.
For more information, please visit:
Spina Bifida Association of America
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Phenylketonuria (PKU)
PKU is an inherited metabolic disorder in which the body cannot metabolize the
amino acid phenylalanine that is present in many common foods. If treatment of
the disease is not started within the first few weeks of life, PKU can cause
various degrees of mental retardation, seizures, and other neurological
problems. Because of the very positive outcome when children are identified and
treated early, newborn screening for PKU is carried out in every state in the
U.S. and in many other countries. Dietary restriction of very high protein foods
and use of a synthetic formula as a nutritional substitute can reduce or
eliminate these problems, thus helping children with PKU to expect normal
development and a normal life span.
For more information, please visit:
National PKU News
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Prader-Willi Syndrome
Prader-Willi Syndrome is a combination of birth defects caused by inheriting
both copies of the #15 chromosome from the mother (25%) or by inheriting a
deletion of a region of chromosome #15 from the father (75% of PWS). Signs of
PWS include hypotonia, global developmental delay evident before age 6, feeding
problems in infancy, narrow face, almond-shaped eyes, small-appearing mouth,
hypopigmentation, motor planning problems, behavioral problems, sleep
disturbances and compulsive eating problems. Diagnosis is made through genetic
and DNA testing. Treatments include food restriction, daily exercise,
medication, physical and occupational therapies, speech therapy, growth hormone
therapy, and special education services. If weight is controlled, life
expectancy may be normal, and the individual’s health and functioning can be
maximized.
For more information, please visit:
Prader-Willi Syndrome Association
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Seizure Disorders
Seizure disorders are neurological disorders that may cause physical
convulsions, minor physical signs, thought disturbances, or a combination of
symptoms that are the result of uncontrolled electrical activity in the brain.
An individual with a seizure disorder, such as epilepsy, may experience one or
more different types and levels of severity of seizure. The condition can
develop at any time of life, especially in early childhood, during adolescence
and old age. Treatments included seizure-preventing medicines, surgery,
ketogenic diet (primarily in children), or electrical stimulation of the vagus
nerve, a large nerve leading into the brain. Although seizure medications are
not a cure, they control seizures in the majority of people with epilepsy. For
some, seizure disorders will be a temporary problem, easily controlled with
medication and outgrown after a few years. For others, it may be a lifelong
challenge affecting many areas of life.
For more information, please visit:
Epilepsy Foundation
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Tourette Syndrome
Tourette Syndrome is a neurological disorder characterized, in mild form, by
recurring involuntary body movements and sounds (called tics) and, in advanced
cases by large involuntary bodily movements, noises like barks and whistles, and
in many instances an uncontrollable urge to utter obscenities. People with
Tourette Syndrome are often impulsive and have other symptoms of Attention
Deficit Disorder. While the average age of onset of Tourette Syndrome is 6-7
years old, there are many cases where parents later realized that their child's
tics had actually started much younger. In almost all cases, Tourette Syndrome
emerges before age 18, but there are exceptions. The diagnosis is based on
patient history, observation, and testing to rule out other conditions. Most
cases of TS are thought to be "mild," meaning that the individual does not seek
treatment and/or does not experience significant interference in their life from
their tics. If tics become problematic, treatment options are available. There
are a variety of medications that may provide some relief from the tics and at
least one empirically validated non-medication treatment for tics.
For more information, please visit:
Tourette Syndrome “Plus”
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Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a disability category that occurs as the result
of an injury to the brain as a result of an accident, insufficient oxygen,
poisoning or infection at any time during an individual’s life. It does not
include congenital or degenerative brain injuries or brain injuries caused by
birth trauma. Traumatic brain injuries may result in impairment in cognition,
language, social skills, memory, attention, reasoning, behavior, physical
functioning, psychological functioning, information processing, or speech.
Physical challenges can include ambulation, balance, coordination, fine motor
skills, strength, and endurance. Medical and neurology specialists determine a
diagnosis using behavioral and neuropsychological assessments. In addition to
rehabilitation services, individuals with TBI are treated with many of the
services and supports as individuals with developmental disabilities. Outcomes
vary by level of injury, with the goal for many being to return to school or to
work, but with new and different levels of support.
For more information, please visit:
Traumatic Brain Injury Resource Guide
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Williams Syndrome
Williams Syndrome is a rare genetic disorder present at birth that is associated
with deletion of genetic material in chromosome 7. The disorder is characterized
by the following physical features: unique elfin facial features, heart and
blood vessel problems, elevated blood calcium levels, slow weight gain, feeding
problems, colic, dental problems, kidney problems, hernias, and hypotonia.
Children with Williams Syndrome may be excessively social and have developmental
delays, learning disabilities, and attention deficit. The disorder is diagnosed
by genetic blood test through a technique called fluorescence in situ
hybridization (FISH). Treatment typically includes physical, occupational and
speech therapies. Most adults with Williams Syndrome are able to complete school
and hold jobs. Many live with their parents, in supervised settings or on their
own.
For more information, please visit:
Williams Syndrome Association (WSA)
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