Developmental disabilities overview

Developmental disability is a term used in the United States and Canada to describe lifelong disabilities attributable to mental or physical impairments, manifested prior to age 18. It is not synonymous with "developmental delay" which is often a consequence of a temporary illness or trauma during childhood. Developmental disabilities affect between 1 and 2% of the population in most western countries, although many government sources acknowledge that statistics are flawed in this area. The worldwide proportion of people with developmental disabilities is believed to be approximately 1.4%. It is twice as common in males as in females, and some researchers have found that the prevalence of mild developmental disabilities is likely to be higher in areas of poverty and deprivation, and among people of certain ethnicities.

The causes of development disabilities are numerous - some examples include pregnancy complications, abnormal genes, traumatic brain injury, or growth and/or nutrition problems. Symptom presentation is also varied - some people may suffer from some form of physical or biological disability. People with development disabilities are more likely than the general populace to present with mental health issues, experience abuse or exhibit challenging behavior. They have a history of being oppressed or marginalized by society, and it is only in the last half century that sufferers have began to gain some acceptance. Today, there are a great variety of government and nonprofit programs available to support people with developmental disabilities with things such as educational training, residential support, and employment support. There is no universal presentation between the types of developmental disabilities, or even within any one type of disability. Two people who have the same diagnosis may have significantly different symptoms and behavior. 


The types of developmental disabilities covered in this blog are:

- Down syndrome
- ADHD
- PDD
- Aspergers
- Autism