Developmental disabilities are common, affecting about 1 in 6 children.
Most Common Developmental Disabilities
There are many different kinds of developmental disabilities.
Disabilities affect a person in different ways, and to varying extents.
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Some developmental disabilities are more common than others.
A 2019 study published inPediatricslooked at the prevalence of different disabilities among children aged 3-17 between 2015-2017.
They found that, overall, 17.8% of children had a developmental disability.
Intellectual Disability
Many people are understandably confused about the difference between a developmental disability and an intellectual disability.
They also refer to socializing and adaptive life skills which require mental and intellectual capabilities.
Intellectual disabilities fall under the umbrella of developmental disabilities, but not all developmental disabilities are intellectual disabilities.
Causes of Developmental Disabilities
The cause of any particular developmental disability depends on the disability itself.
Each developmental disability has different causes, and some disabilities have more than one cause.
Moreover, the causes may vary from one individual to the next.
Lets look at some of the most common developmental disabilities and their unique causes and risk factors.
Learning Disabilities
Researchers are still uncovering what causes different learning disabilities.
Genetics may play a role, as many children with learning disabilities also have parents with learning disabilities.
Intellectual Disabilities
Intellectual disabilities have various causes, because they are triggered by different conditions.
Conditions that may cause intellectual disabilities include fetal alcohol syndrome, Down syndrome, and fragile X syndrome.
Other possible risk factors include various genetic conditions, and infections during pregnancy.
Hearing Loss
About half of all hearing loss in babies is genetic.
Some babies may have a condition that includes hearing loss, such as Down syndrome or Usher syndrome.
How Are Developmental Disabilities Diagnosed?
As such, children are screened throughout early childhood for signs of developmental disabilities.
Additionally, the AAP recommends autism screening at 18 months and 24 months.
Screening tests cant diagnose your child with a disorder.
You know your child best.
Always discuss any concerns you may have with their pediatricians, teachers, or a child therapist.
In general, the earlier treatments are started for developmental disabilities, the better.
Early intervention services are known to be the most effective way to address these conditions.
Many of these services are free if your child qualifies and are handled by state and local agencies.
Different disabilities require different treatment plans.
According to 2019 data from the AAP, its the most common developmental disability among children.
Some developmental disabilities are genetic, or likely have genetic influences.
Other disabilities happen during pregnancy, after birth, or during early infancy.
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