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Developmental Disabilities

  • Writer: Vanessa Mukoo
    Vanessa Mukoo
  • Apr 13, 2022
  • 4 min read

Updated: Apr 14, 2022


image source: Wix media


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Developmental disabilities are a category of disorders that hinder the process of development in children. The causes behind developmental disabilities can range from genetics to medical illnesses/injuries as well as social and environmental factors. These conditions begin as early as infancy or early childhood and can last throughout an individual’s lifetime.


It is crucial to intervene and seek treatment for developmental disabilities as early as possible so as to perform daily activities. This article is going to discuss the 3 major types of developmental disorders:


Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Autism Spectrum Disorder (or ASD) is a brain condition that severely affects the way a person functions in social situations such as a school or workplace. It impacts the ability to generally interact or communicate with other people and changes the way a person perceives and interprets situations.


This disorder covers a range of conditions like autistic disorder, pervasive developmental disorder, and asperger’s syndrome. Signs and symptoms of ASD start to appear around infancy or early childhood itself and cause problems in later life. Some of the risk factors of developing this disorder include early or premature birth, low birth weight, and even the child’s sex assigned at birth (boys are 4 times more likely to develop autism spectrum disorder than girls).


This disorder may affect various people differently. Some children may have lower than normal intelligence and struggle with learning things while others may have higher learning capacity but fail to efficiently communicate with other people.


A child may struggle with autism spectrum disorder if they show the following symptoms with regards to social interaction and observable behaviour:

  • Fails to respond to their own name and even pretends to not hear you

  • Has poor eye contact to no eye contact

  • Displays signs of delayed speech

  • Does not express emotions and is unaware of other people’s feelings

  • Speaks with an abnormal tone or rhythm

  • Cannot start or maintain a conversation

  • Tends to repeat words and/or phrases

  • Has difficulty responding to non-verbal cues

  • Aggressively and disruptively approaches or handles a situation


The child may perform repetitive movements like spinning, show patterns of self-harm, and develop an abnormally intense interest in an activity or object.


Currently, there is no cure available for autism spectrum disorder but early intervention is key to leading a healthier life.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (commonly known as ADHD) refers to a condition commonly categorised as inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. ADHD typically occurs in childhood and in some cases, continues into adulthood. Inability to properly focus on tasks results in major difficulties such as poor performance in school/examinations, poor relationships with other people, and a disturbed sense of self and purpose. Brain injury, low birth weight, and premature delivery are known to be some of the common causes behind ADHD.


ADHD is diagnosed on the basis of the following symptoms categorised by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5):


Symptoms of inattention:

  • Having trouble organising tasks

  • Losing items easily

  • Appearing to be spacey and confused

  • Struggling to stay on point and focus on the given task

  • Getting bored very easily and shifting from one task to another

  • Getting easily distracted by other irrelevant sounds or sights


Symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsivity:

  • Restlessness (that can include fidgeting)

  • Displaying loud and disruptive behaviour

  • Interrupting people and talking excessively

  • Being constantly in motion

  • Having difficulty staying seated in one place


Symptoms of ADHD tend to deteriorate (and may even become invisible to an observer) with age. For example, adults are able to control their bodily motions and environment more than children. Therefore, symptoms in childhood may seem to be worse.


The criteria specified by the DSM-5 for the diagnosis of ADHD are:

  1. The symptoms must be present since childhood.

  2. The symptoms must be present in more than one social or environmental setting.

  3. The symptoms affect a person’s social, academic/work, and personal life.

  4. There must be 5 or more symptoms present.

  5. Other causes (such as an underlying medical condition other than ADHD) must be ruled out.

Cerebral Palsy (CP)

Cerebral Palsy is a group of disorders that affect movement and muscle coordination. It is usually a result of damage occurring to the immature brain generally before birth. It may even lead to a loss of vision and hearing. Other disorders like intellectual disabilities, deafness or epilepsy may accompany Cerebral Palsy. Premature birth, low birth weight, being a twin or a triplet are a few of the risk factors. There is currently no cure for Cerebral Palsy but it can be effectively managed with proper medication and assistance.


Signs and symptoms range from mild to severe and even differ widely among individuals. However, the most common symptoms include:

  • Difficulty walking

  • Stiff muscles

  • Difficulty with fine motor skills like picking up objects

  • Delays in speech development

  • Jerky, involuntary movements

  • Lack of balance and coordination

  • Problems with swallowing and excessive drooling

  • Bladder and bowel problems


A doctor diagnoses a person with cerebral palsy after being briefed up with the person’s medical history and performing an intense physical exam. MRI and CT scans are used to produce comprehensive images of the brain to check for abnormalities or injuries.


A number of complications arise if a person has Cerebral Palsy such as mental health conditions like depression due to social isolation, malnutrition due to difficulties in swallowing, and heart and lung diseases.


It is important to note that developmental disabilities can be prevented through proper intervention and assistance as well as through a constant effort to reduce the stigma around these conditions.



2 Comments

aryan2906
aryan2906
Apr 14, 2022


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Vanessa Mukoo
Vanessa Mukoo
Apr 14, 2022
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