What are developmental disorders?

Developmental disorders refer to a wide range of conditions that cause cognitive and physical disabilities. Most developmental disorders affect a person throughout their life and are almost always diagnosed before the age of 22. A developmental disorder can affect all aspects of an individual’s abilities, such as language, learning, speech, behavior, and movement.

If your child is not meeting their early milestones, their pediatrician may recommend a developmental screening. Early intervention can improve your child’s ability to learn new skills and reach their expected milestones.

What are the different types of developmental disorders?

Many types of developmental disorders exist, but the most common are:

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)

Autism spectrum disorder affects an individual’s social, emotional, behavioral, and cognitive functions throughout life. While some individuals with autism are high-functioning and live independently, others require lifelong care.

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

ADHD is a common developmental disorder that typically impairs a child’s ability to pay attention, stay on task, and sit still. While most individuals receive an ADHD diagnosis during childhood, the condition can cause symptoms well into adulthood.

Cerebral palsy

Cerebral palsy affects movement and balance. There are three different types of cerebral palsy: spastic, athetoid, and ataxic. While spastic cerebral palsy causes stiff muscles, athetoid makes it difficult to control movements. Ataxic cerebral palsy primarily affects balance and coordination.

Learning disability

A learning disability can interfere with a child’s communication, language, reading, writing, and math skills.

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)

Fetal alcohol syndrome is a developmental disorder that occurs when a mother consumes too much alcohol during pregnancy. As a result, children with fetal alcohol syndrome can experience cognitive challenges, low birth weight, executive function difficulties, and even vision and hearing problems.

What are the treatments for developmental disorders?

The team at project MIND, Inc., works directly with families to create individualized treatment plans for all clients with developmental disorders. After a comprehensive assessment, the team can address the cognitive, behavioral, and learning challenges that often accompany these disorders.

One of the most common treatments for developmental disorders is applied behavioral analysis (ABA). This evidence-based type of therapy aims to minimize the frequency of negative actions and behaviors and replace them with more positive ones.

The foundation of ABA therapy is positive reinforcement. By setting clear goals and rewards, ABA therapy encourages children with developmental disorders to become more independent and successful in environments where they may not feel comfortable, such as school.