An Overview Of Common Developmental Disorders
Developmental disorders can affect people of all backgrounds and intellectual ability levels. While some can be severe and affect a person’s ability to carry out daily tasks, others can be mild and may go largely unnoticed to others. However, in many cases developmental disorders are diagnosed in childhood. In these cases, they often affect certain areas of growth or development that are typical for a person at a given age. These disorders may improve as a child becomes an adult, but developmental disorders can still affect adults later in life. Although these conditions differ from mental illnesses, some people with developmental disabilities also experience comorbid mental health concerns.
In this article, we’ll cover some of the more common developmental disorders, their possible causes, and the treatments available for these disorders, including therapeutic approaches that take into account a person’s strengths while helping them work toward improvement.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
Autism spectrum disorder, or ASD, encompasses a wide variety of autism diagnoses, ranging from mild to severe. Some people have mild autism that doesn’t interfere much with their lives. There are plenty of adults who are living with autism and have jobs, spouses, and children. Other people may have a more severe case of autism that affects their ability to speak or perform tasks that are often considered neurotypical.
The exact cause of autism is still unknown. While some believe that it’s a genetic condition, others say it's caused by factors a child is exposed to as they grow up. What research has shown is that autism is a disorder related to the cerebral cortex. The cerebral cortex is involved in numerous functions, including memory, muscle movements, and sensation. Researchers believe that the brains of individuals with autism are wired differently.
Although there is no cure for autism, there are ways to treat some of the symptoms, and treatment can vary depending on the person. For example, someone with ASD who has difficulty communicating may benefit from therapy to learn different ways to communicate. Therapists may provide auditory training, music therapy, physical therapy, and other therapeutic approaches. Aside from those approaches, internet therapy for autism spectrum disorder may also help.
ADHD
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, is another common developmental disorder. When people think of ADHD, they may imagine a child who is hyperactive and experiences difficulty paying attention. While this may be true for some children, there can be a lot more to ADHD than just that. As with autism, researchers don't know the exact cause of ADHD, but they have divided this condition into three subtypes:
Predominantly inattentive
An individual with this subtype may experience difficulty focusing, become distracted easily, become easily bored, have difficulty learning and processing new information, and experience difficulty completing homework.
Predominantly hyperactive
With this type of ADHD, a person may feel the need to move around constantly. Although many children naturally run around and are energetic, a child with predominantly hyperactive ADHD might have difficulty sitting in their seat without feeling uncomfortable. They can also be inattentive and have challenges with impulse control. In other words, they may do things without thinking first, such as telling an adult how they really feel or running into danger without thinking.
Combined
Combined ADHD occurs when a child has both hyperactive and inattentive traits. They may lean toward one or the other or have traits from both in relatively equal amounts.
ADHD, like autism, has no cure, but there are treatment options. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the first-line treatment for children in preschool tends to be behavioral therapy, including training for parents, before a child is prescribed medication. For other children, a combination of behavior therapy and medication may be used. With the right guidance, proper diagnoses and treatment plans may relieve symptoms and make them more manageable to live with. It’s recommended that you always consult a doctor before starting or stopping a medication.
Reading disorders
A child may be highly intelligent and willing to read, but their reading level might be lower than average for their age, which may lead to a diagnosis of a reading disorder. As with any disorder, the degree of impact can vary. Some people may be able to read with relative ease but may experience difficulty with a few words, while others cannot read at all.
Sometimes, a child may have poor reading skills due to poor instructions or a hearing or visual difficulty. Other times, it's because of a developmental disorder. One of the most common reading disorders is dyslexia.
Dyslexia
With dyslexia, a child may have trouble reading or decoding words fluently. According to Yale University, dyslexia affects around 20% of the population and can be a byproduct of other developmental disorders, such as ADHD. Some adults can develop dyslexia if they have a brain injury, and there may be genetic factors that play a role as well.
While there is no known way to cure dyslexia, it can be treated with therapy and practice. A person living with dyslexia may need a safe place to learn to read. There are also fonts that may make it easier for a person with dyslexia to read.
Hyperlexia
On the opposite end of the dyslexic spectrum is hyperlexia. This occurs when a child has reading skills beyond those of the average person their age. Many people with hyperlexia have trouble with reading comprehension and understanding of speech. There is a strong link between hyperlexia and autism, with research showing that 84% of people with the condition also being on the autism spectrum.
Developmental stuttering
According to Cleveland Clinic, developmental stuttering is a neurodevelopmental disorder. Stuttering occurs when the flow of speech gets interrupted by involuntary repetition of sounds, syllables, words, phrases, etc. Speech can also be interrupted by long pauses, which is referred to as stammering. Its severity can vary from person to person. Some may have a mild stutter that doesn't affect their speech much, while others may have a more severe stutter that can make communication challenging.
There is no known cause of stuttering. It may be hereditary, as research shows that someone with a first-degree family member with a stutter may be three times more likely to experience stuttering. It could also be genetic or a result of a difference in brain structure.
There is no cure for stuttering, but there are treatment options available, including speech therapy.
Tourette’s syndrome
Also known as Tourette's, this is a developmental disorder that tends to involve tics, both motor and vocal. Tics are sudden, repetitive, and involuntary movements, which may be mild or severe.
The exact cause of isn't known, but as with many developmental disorders, it may be due to genetic and environmental factors. There is no cure for Tourette's syndrome, but medication and therapy may help treat many of the involuntary tics. Also, the symptoms often become less frequent as children go through puberty.
Online counseling with BetterHelp
If you are living with a developmental disorder, counseling may help bring out your strengths and mitigate some of the symptoms you’re experiencing. If you don’t feel comfortable with traditional in-person therapy, you might try online therapy.
With BetterHelp, you can attend therapy sessions from the comfort of your home or wherever you have an internet connection. You can participate in sessions in a way that is most comfortable for you, whether by phone, live chat, videoconferencing, or a combination of these modalities. A licensed therapist may be able to provide you with resources to better understand developmental disorders and evidence-based strategies to overcome any challenges you may be facing.
The efficacy of online counseling
Recent studies have shown that online therapy can be effective in treating symptoms of certain developmental disorders. One study that was published in Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders assessed the potential benefits of an online intervention for older adolescents and young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Researchers utilized a psychoeducational resource facilitated by disability service professionals to evaluate the efficacy of the program as well as participant satisfaction. They found that 79% of participants completed the study and reported high satisfaction with the treatment.
Counselor reviews
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Takeaway
What are the 5 developmental disabilities?
There are more than five developmental disabilities. As defined by the federal government of the United States, a developmental disability is a severe, chronic disability attributable to a mental or physical impairment that is often present from birth and manifests before adulthood. The condition is likely to continue indefinitely.
The term “developmental disability” is a social construct, and while the federal definition focuses on function, many states use definitions based on specific diagnostic categories. Examples include autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and intellectual disabilities, among others.
The inconsistent definitions between jurisdictions may have led to the impression that only the most common developmental disabilities are categorized as such. While definitions of developmental disabilities vary, every person with such a condition will have atypical neurological development that results in deficiencies in some or all of the following domains:
- Cognition (thinking, reasoning, problem-solving, and learning)
- Sensory processing
- Fine motor skills
- Gross motor skills
- Seizure thresholds (a higher risk of debilitating seizures)
- Behavioral and emotional well-being
What are common developmental disabilities in children?
While many disorders can be labeled as “developmental disabilities,” research suggests that the most common include ADHD, learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, and intellectual disabilities.
ADHD is by far the most prevalent. It is categorized by an inability to maintain focus and concentration, a tendency towards hyperactivity, and poor impulse control. Autism spectrum disorder frequently appears alongside ADHD, and it is characterized by adherence to rigid thoughts and behaviors, as well as difficulty socializing and relating to others.
Learning disabilities are also common and usually include problems acquiring reading and math skills, and are typically referred to as specific learning disabilities in school settings. ADHD is also sometimes referred to as a learning disability due to its ability to impair a child’s function at school, but it is likely better classified as a broader neurodevelopmental disability.
The “specific” in specific learning disabilities refers to problems learning within particular domains, like math or reading. In contrast, an intellectual disability affects learning abilities and other cognitive functions generally; it is not restricted to one domain. A person with an intellectual disability will likely have deficits in retaining information, reasoning, and problem-solving.
What is an example of a physical developmental disability?
One example of a physical developmental disability is cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy is the most common motor disability in childhood. It is caused by abnormal brain development or damage to a developing brain that affects a child’s ability to control their muscles. While everyone with cerebral palsy has trouble with movement, not everyone will experience intellectual concerns or damage to areas of the brain not associated with muscular control.
What are the 7 main types of learning disabilities?
According to the list of developmental disabilities provided by the Learning Disabilities Association of America, the main types of learning disabilities include:
- Attention-deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). A disorder that includes trouble focusing, controlling impulsive behavior, and hyperactivity.
- Dyscalculia. A disability that affects a person’s ability to understand numbers and learn math facts.
- Dysgraphia. A disability that affects a person’s fine motor skills, namely handwriting.
- Dyslexia. A disability that affects a person’s ability to read, process language, and decode words and letters.
- Dyspraxia. A disorder that affects a child’s ability to coordinate movement, understand language, and speak properly.
- Executive Functioning Deficit. A disability associated with trouble planning, organizing, strategizing, and managing time.
- Non-Verbal Learning Deficit. A disorder associated with trouble interpreting nonverbal cues and body language.
Is ADHD a developmental disability?
ADHD is considered a developmental disability, although the term “developmental disability” is not well defined. The more appropriate description of ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder, which also includes related conditions commonly labeled as developmental disabilities, like autism spectrum disorder.
What are the 4 degrees of developmental disabilities?
The four degrees of developmental disabilities likely refer to intellectual disability alone. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-V), provides diagnostic criteria for intellectual disability and offers four degrees of severity: mild, moderate, severe, and profound. The fifth edition of the DSM bases its degrees of severity on relative impairment in conceptual, social, and practical domains. In contrast, the fourth edition categorized degrees of severity based on IQ score. An IQ of 55 to 70 was a mild impairment, 35 to 55 was moderate, 25 to 35 was severe, and below 25 was considered profound.
Can a child have mild autism?
To receive a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, a child must demonstrate deficits in social communication and some form of restricted, repetitive behavior. Social communication deficits might appear as an abnormal social approach, trouble using and interpreting nonverbal communication, and trouble maintaining social relationships.
Restricted and repetitive behaviors might include repetitive motor movements, inflexible adherence to routines, highly restricted interests, or hyperreactivity to sensory input. Severity is determined differently for each category and is based on the amount of support a child requires. Level 1 indicates limited support is needed, Level 2 indicates substantial support is required, and Level 3 indicates very substantial support is needed.
A child who meets the criteria for autism spectrum disorder and has level 1 severity in both diagnostic categories would likely be considered to have “mild” autism. This diagnosis is roughly equivalent to Asperger’s disorder, which is no longer used.
Is cerebral palsy an intellectual disability?
Cerebral palsy is not an intellectual disability, but it sometimes occurs alongside other developmental disabilities, intellectual disability included. However, a diagnosis of cerebral palsy does not indicate that an intellectual disability is present. Cerebral palsy is a disorder associated with trouble controlling one’s muscles, and a person with cerebral palsy can have an average or higher-than-average IQ score, indicating that their intellect is intact.
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