A developmental disability is a long term condition that is caused by a problem in one or more of the body’s systems. The most common of these conditions affects the nervous system. Many of the disorders can be mild and easily treated. However, others can result in disability or death, especially in children. The long term effects can severely impact someone’s quality of life, as well as their ability to carry out normal daily activities.
Some types of developmental disorders are very obvious. For example, blindness, deafness, and even autism have very clear and recognizable symptoms. Others have less obvious symptoms. For example, low levels of intelligence are also typical.
While there are no specific causes of developmental disabilities, many researchers believe that genetics play a role. It is thought that a person who has a close genetic relative with a developmental disability tends to have a shorter lifespan than someone who does not have such a family history.
It is also thought that some serious mental disorders, like schizophrenia, may result from having a developmental problem in one or more of the mind’s systems. People with developmental disabilities tend to be more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. These disorders are common in people who have Down Syndrome and Autism.
In addition to the obvious health issues that stem from developmental disabilities, the emotional implications can be devastating. Someone with developmental disabilities is more likely to suffer from a personality disorder such as depression. And they are also more likely to suffer from substance abuse. These conditions may lead to suicidal thoughts or behaviors and can result in the death of a child.
Because of the long term effects that developmental disabilities have on a person’s life, it is important to seek treatment if there is a chance that you may have a developmental disability. As mentioned earlier, most children with developmental disabilities will outgrow it. but it is important to make sure that you can take care of yourself in the event that you do outgrow your condition.
No matter how advanced your condition may be, there is always the chance that you will outgrow it and live a long term effect on your own. But if you feel there may be a developmental disability in your future, it is a good idea to talk to your doctor about getting treatment.
The majority of developmental disabilities will resolve themselves over time without medical intervention. However, you might need to start seeing a specialist for specialized treatment. If you have a high risk of suffering from serious mental disorders like schizophrenia, anxiety, depression, or substance abuse in the future, your doctor may recommend that you see a psychologist or psychiatrist to get help dealing with these problems.
In the past, your doctor was the only person who could tell whether you had a developmental disability or not. But with advances in modern medicine, that is no longer the case. Today, there are tests that are available that can reveal the possibility that a child with a developmental disability may need some type of special care.
Developmental Disorders are categorized into five main categories. They include cerebral palsy, dyslexia, developmental delay, developmental language disorder, dyspraxia, autistic disorder, and Asperger’s Disorder. Each one of these has its own set of symptoms and treatment options. You will need to talk with your doctor about these five different categories so that you can be treated appropriately.
Some of these disorders require a certain level of in depth testing to determine what your particular problem is and whether or not a treatment plan needs to be put in place. While these tests are not painful, they are invasive and expensive. If your child has one or more of the above disorders, they will need to be seen by a psychiatrist, a speech pathologist, and neurologist.
Your doctor can help you decide if you need to enroll your child in a special needs program. Such a program can help provide an environment for your child to learn how to live independently in a structured environment. Once your child begins school, the special needs program can help them interact with other children and learn the things that the classroom cannot teach.
