What Are the Five Developmental Disabilities?

There are five primary developmental disorders to be aware of. They are:

• Autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This is aneurodevelopmental condition that affects one’s ability to interact, communicate, and socialize with others. This may include presenting persistent social deficits, as well as restrictive and/or repetitive patterns of behavior.
• Cerebral palsy. This condition affects movement and coordination and is caused by damage to the brain either pre- or post-delivery. It is primarily characterized by muscle weakness and difficulty managing balance and coordination.
• Down syndrome. This isa genetic condition characterized by cognitive delays and physical abnormalities.
• Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). This group of conditions can occur when a fetus is exposed to alcohol while in the womb. It results in physical abnormalities, as well as specific cognitive and behavioral issues throughout development.
• Intellectual disabilities. This is characterized bysignificant limitations when it comes to learning, cognitive functioning, communication, and adaptive behavior.

Childhood disorders are defined as those medical conditions that affect behavior, emotional regulation, social skills, or cognitive development as a child is moving through their mental, physical, and emotional development. These conditions fall outside of the normal stages of childhood development and are not caused by any other medical conditions.

The most common childhood disorders are:

• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
• Anxiety disorders.
• Autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
• Depression and other mood disorders.
• Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD).
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
• Eating disorders.
• Schizophrenia.

Through regular and comprehensive care, a pediatrician is usually able to identify and diagnose a childhood disorder early on. This is important, as the earlier treatment can start, the more success your child is likely to have in the future.

Research continues to be done regarding what causes developmental disabilities. Current research suggests that they may be the result of several different factors, such as:

• Genetics.
• Parental health and behaviors during pregnancy.
• Complications during birth.
• Infections the mother might have during pregnancy.
• Early infections suffered by the baby.
• The mother’s exposure to environmental toxins before or during pregnancy.

While children develop physically and mentally at different rates, they may be diagnosed with a developmental delay if they are slower to reach developmental milestones than their peers. Developmental milestones are skills and behaviors that are learned through playing, speaking, learning, behaving, and moving around.

Examples of developmental milestones include things such:

• as smiling for the first time.
• Rolling over.
• Walking.
• Pulling up to stand.
• Hand gestures, such as waving.
• Reading.
• Crawling.
• Saying their first word.
• Socializing with other children.

In short, a developmental delay simply means that your child consistently doesn’t learn skills and/or behaviors as quickly as the majority of children in the same age range.

However, it’s important to note that children reach milestones at different rates, and some variance is completely normal. If your child is a little behind, don’t worry – it doesn’t necessarily mean that they have a developmental delay. It’s always best to consult with your pediatrician, as they’re the experts on where your child should be at every stage of their development.

If you are concerned that your child may have a developmental disorder, or would like more information about our pediatric developmental services, connect with us at Olivero Pediatrics. Our experienced and knowledgeable pediatric team would be happy to answer any questions that you may have or help you get booked for an appointment. We are conveniently located at 1243 Skytop Mountain Rd. Suite 4, Port Matilda, PA 16870. We serve patients from Port Matilda PA, Waddle PA, Julian PA, State College PA, Bellefonte PA, Pennsylvania Furnace PA, and Pine Grove Mills PA.