Developmental disabilities

Provided by: Healthwise
46% of users found this article helpful.

Developmental disabilities are a group of problems that often include difficulty with physical, thinking and reasoning (intellectual), social, or psychological growth and development.

Some early signs of developmental disabilities in children include:

  • Crawling, sitting up, walking, and talking more slowly (or later) than other children of the same age. A variety of therapies are available to assist children in learning these skills.
  • Not functioning at the same level as other children of the same age in social behavior or thinking processes. It is important that a child's thinking ability and social behavior be closely watched. Appropriate measures should be taken at school, at home, or in other situations to help a child reach his or her potential.
Author:Sabra L. Katz-Wise
Medical Review:Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics
Fred Volkmar, MD - Child Psychiatry
Last Updated: 06/07/2006

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