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GeezerVison is showing medlineplus.gov — Developmental Disabilities: MedlinePlus

Developmental Disabilities

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Basics

  • Summary
  • Start Here
  • Diagnosis and Tests
  • Treatments and Therapies

Learn More

  • Related Issues
  • Specifics
  • Genetics

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Research

  • Clinical Trials
  • Journal Articles

Resources

  • Find an Expert

For You

  • Patient Handouts

Summary

What are developmental disabilities?

Developmental disabilities are conditions that are usually present at birth. They can affect a child's growth and development. These conditions can cause physical, learning, language, or behavior issues. They can include:

  • Learning disabilities. These conditions affect the ability to learn.
  • Autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This is a disorder that affects behavior, communication, and social skills.
  • Cerebral palsy (CP). This is a condition that affects movement, coordination, and balance.
  • Physical disabilities. These could include blindness or deafness.
  • Conditions that can affect both physical and mental abilities. This could include Down syndrome.

These conditions can cause lifelong challenges in learning. Completing daily tasks may be difficult. Early treatment may help your child learn important skills and make the most of their strengths.

What causes developmental disabilities?

Developmental disabilities are often present at birth. They can occur due to various reasons. These can include:

  • Genetic or chromosome abnormalities. These cause conditions such as Down syndrome, Fragile-X-Syndrome, and Rett syndrome.
  • Use of substances while pregnant. For example, drinking alcohol when pregnant can cause fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
  • Certain infections during pregnancy.
  • Preterm birth or low birth weight.

How are developmental disabilities diagnosed?

The way a developmental disability is diagnosed depends on the condition. Screening tests or a physical exam may be done to check for a medical problem. Other tests and questionnaires may help find out if your child has a developmental disability. These may include:

  • Screening tests that are done during pregnancy or for newborns
  • Developmental and behavioral screening tests or questionnaires to check if your child is developing on schedule
  • Observing your child's behavior and how they interact with other people
  • Testing your child's intellectual and school performance
  • Asking about your family history

What are the treatments for developmental disabilities?

If your child has a developmental disability, these are usually lifelong conditions. Often, there is no cure, but treatment can help the symptoms. Treatments can include:

  • Physical, speech, and occupational therapy
  • Special teaching methods
  • Psychological counseling
  • To keep track of how your child grows and changes over time

NIH: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

Start Here

  • Developmental Disability Basics (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
  • Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities From the National Institutes of Health (Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development)
  • Intellectual Disabilities (American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry)
  • What Are Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDDs)? From the National Institutes of Health (Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) Also in Spanish

Diagnosis and Tests

  • Developmental and Behavioral Screening Tests From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
  • Developmental Monitoring and Screening (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
  • How Do Health Care Providers Diagnose Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDDs)? From the National Institutes of Health (Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) Also in Spanish
  • Why Act Early if You're Concerned about Development? (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish

Treatments and Therapies

  • What Should I Do if I Think My Child Has an IDD? From the National Institutes of Health (Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) Also in Spanish

Related Issues

  • Concerned about Your Child's Development? (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
  • Developmental Disabilities & Oral Health From the National Institutes of Health (National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research) Also in Spanish
  • Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
  • Overview of Early Intervention (Center for Parent Information and Resources)
  • Physical Therapy (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
  • Speech-Language Therapy (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
  • Taking Your Child to a Therapist Video (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
  • What Is a Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrician? Video (American Academy of Pediatrics) Also in Spanish

Specifics

  • About Cri du Chat Syndrome From the National Institutes of Health (National Human Genome Research Institute)
  • Angelman Syndrome From the National Institutes of Health (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
  • Intellectual Disability (Center for Parent Information and Resources)
  • Williams Syndrome From the National Institutes of Health (Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center) Also in Spanish

Genetics

  • 15q13.3 microdeletion: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • 16p11.2 deletion syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • 16p11.2 duplication: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • 16p12.2 microdeletion: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • 17q12 deletion syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • 17q12 duplication: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • 19p13.13 deletion syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • 1p36 deletion syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • 1q21.1 microdeletion: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • 1q21.1 microduplication: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • 3p deletion syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • 3q29 microdeletion syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • 3q29 microduplication syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • 5q31.3 microdeletion syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • 7q11.23 duplication syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • 9q22.3 microdeletion: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Acrocallosal syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • ADNP syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Allan-Herndon-Dudley syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Alpha thalassemia X-linked intellectual disability syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Aminoacylase 1 deficiency: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Angelman syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Aspartylglucosaminuria: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • CASK-related intellectual disability: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • CDKL5 deficiency disorder: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Cerebro-facio-thoracic dysplasia: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • CHOPS syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Christianson syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Coffin-Lowry syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Coffin-Siris syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Cohen syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Cornelia de Lange syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Costello syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Cri-du-chat syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy 1: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Distal 18q deletion syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Donnai-Barrow syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Emanuel syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • FG syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • FOXG1 syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Fragile XE syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Genitopatellar syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • HIVEP2-related intellectual disability: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • HSD10 disease: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Jacobsen syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Kabuki syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Kaufman oculocerebrofacial syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • KBG syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • KCNK9 imprinting syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Kleefstra syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Koolen-de Vries syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Lowe syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Lujan syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Mabry syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • MBD5-associated neurodevelopmental disorder: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • MECP2 duplication syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • MED13L syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Microcephaly-capillary malformation syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Monoamine oxidase A deficiency: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Mowat-Wilson syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Mucolipidosis type IV: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Neurodevelopmental disorder with or without anomalies of the brain, eye, or heart: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Ohdo syndrome, Maat-Kievit-Brunner type: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Ohdo syndrome, Say-Barber-Biesecker-Young-Simpson variant: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Pallister-Killian mosaic syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Partington syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Pitt-Hopkins syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Potocki-Lupski syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • PPM-X syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • PPP2R5D-related intellectual disability: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • PURA syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • RAB18 deficiency: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Renpenning syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Ring chromosome 14 syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • SATB2-associated syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Smith-Magenis syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Snyder-Robinson syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • SYNGAP1-related intellectual disability: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Tetrasomy 18p: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • VACTERL association: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • White-Sutton syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Williams syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • X-linked intellectual disability, Siderius type: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Xia-Gibbs syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Yuan-Harel-Lupski syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)

Clinical Trials

  • ClinicalTrials.gov: Developmental Disabilities From the National Institutes of Health (National Institutes of Health)
  • ClinicalTrials.gov: Intellectual Disability From the National Institutes of Health (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

  • Article: De novo SETD5 missense variants in individuals with MRD23 cluster within...
  • Article: Use of Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation for Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Adults...
  • Article: The COVID-19 Pandemic Experience of Families With Children With Developmental Disorders...
  • Developmental Disabilities -- see more articles

Find an Expert

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Also in Spanish
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke From the National Institutes of Health

Patient Handouts

  • Angelman syndrome (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Developmental coordination disorder (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Intellectual disability (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Topic Image

Developmental disabilities

MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA

  • Angelman syndrome
  • Cri du chat syndrome
  • Developmental coordination disorder
  • Intellectual disability
  • Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome
  • Williams syndrome

Related Health Topics

  • Autism Spectrum Disorder
  • Disabilities
  • Down Syndrome
  • Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
  • Learning Disabilities

National Institutes of Health

The primary NIH organization for research on Developmental Disabilities is the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Disclaimers

MedlinePlus links to health information from the National Institutes of Health and other federal government agencies. MedlinePlus also links to health information from non-government Web sites. See our disclaimer about external links and our quality guidelines.
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