Developmental disabilities are birth defects related to a problem with how a body part or body system works. They may also be known as functional birth defects. Many of these conditions affect multiple body parts or systems.
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDDs) - The term IDDs describes a certain range of scores on an IQ (intelligence quotient) test. IDDs can result from a number of different conditions, including (but not limited to):
- Down syndrome - a set of mental and physical characteristics related to having an extra copy of Chromosome 21.
- Fragile X syndrome- the most common inherited form of IDDs caused by a defect in a specific part of the Fragile X Mental Retardation-1 gene that causes the body to produce low amounts or none of a certain protein. Without the protein, the brain doesn’t develop normally.
- Autism Spectrum Disorders - a range of problems that can affect a person's communication skills, social skills, and intelligence. Because autism is diagnosed on a spectrum, people with this condition can have mild symptoms or severe symptoms; but they all have a type of autism.
Sensory-related disabilities Sensory-related problems are often a key part of complex birth defect patterns. For instance:
- Children with congenital rubella are likely to be deaf, and to develop cataracts of the eyes.
- Children with Williams syndrome have trouble seeing spatial relationships between objects around them.
- Those with Fragile X syndrome are often very sensitive to loud noises; they may overreact or have outbursts in reaction to such sounds.
Metabolic Disorders
This group of functional birth defects affects a person's metabolism, which is the way the body builds up, breaks down, and otherwise processes the materials it needs to function. For example, how your body breaks down sugar to create energy is a metabolic process. Two commonly known metabolic disorders include:
This group of functional birth defects affects a person's metabolism, which is the way the body builds up, breaks down, and otherwise processes the materials it needs to function. For example, how your body breaks down sugar to create energy is a metabolic process. Two commonly known metabolic disorders include:
- Phenylketonuria (PKU) - a condition in which a problem with a specific enzyme, a protein that speeds up certain chemical reactions, causes IDDs.
- Hypothyroidism - a hormonal condition that, if left untreated in an infant, can cause IDDs.*
Causes
There are many social, environmental and physical causes of developmental disabilities, although for
some a definitive cause may never be determined. Common factors causing developmental disabilities
include:
• Brain injury or infection before, during or after birth
• Growth or nutrition problems
• Abnormalities of chromosomes and genes
• Babies born long before the expected birth date - also called extreme prematurity
• Poor diet and health care
• Drug misuse during pregnancy, including excessive alcohol intake and smoking.
• Child abuse can also have a severe effect on the development of a child, specifically the
socio-emotional development.**
There are many social, environmental and physical causes of developmental disabilities, although for
some a definitive cause may never be determined. Common factors causing developmental disabilities
include:
• Brain injury or infection before, during or after birth
• Growth or nutrition problems
• Abnormalities of chromosomes and genes
• Babies born long before the expected birth date - also called extreme prematurity
• Poor diet and health care
• Drug misuse during pregnancy, including excessive alcohol intake and smoking.
• Child abuse can also have a severe effect on the development of a child, specifically the
socio-emotional development.**
Incidence
Roughly 5.4 million Americans have developmental disabilities.
Roughly 5.4 million Americans have developmental disabilities.
Resources
*http://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/developmental_disabilities.cfm
http://www.ddrcco.com/
http://aadd.org/
http://www.nacdd.org/site/home.aspx
http://www.ddha.com/home
http://www.ddso.org/
**http://www.co.delaware.ny.us/departments/ltc/docs/DD_Developmental%20Disabilities%20Causes.pdf
***http://azahaa.com/specialneedsideas.pdf
*http://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/developmental_disabilities.cfm
http://www.ddrcco.com/
http://aadd.org/
http://www.nacdd.org/site/home.aspx
http://www.ddha.com/home
http://www.ddso.org/
**http://www.co.delaware.ny.us/departments/ltc/docs/DD_Developmental%20Disabilities%20Causes.pdf
***http://azahaa.com/specialneedsideas.pdf
Teaching Strategies
Use visual cues to orient student in the classroom.
Post a clear and predictable daily schedule.
Build student motivation.
Use strategies to make directions and learning expectations clearly understood.
Provide structured opportunities for student to participate in social interactions.
Create a plan to help the student to generalize their learning across settings and situations.***
Use visual cues to orient student in the classroom.
Post a clear and predictable daily schedule.
Build student motivation.
Use strategies to make directions and learning expectations clearly understood.
Provide structured opportunities for student to participate in social interactions.
Create a plan to help the student to generalize their learning across settings and situations.***
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