Spotting the signs: how monitoring helps children with developmental disabilities

Defining developmental disabilities, Difficulties, Cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, Combination of factors, Other relevant factors, Diagnosing developmental disabilities, Milestone Tracker app, Speak up, AAP recommendation, At the appointment

"Developmental disability" is the term used for a number of conditions that affect a child's mental and/or physical development. The conditions begin during the developmental period, and usually last a lifetime. It is important that children are monitored in their early years, both informally by parents and more formally by doctors, to assess whether their development is in the normal range.

Check out this gallery to learn all about developmental disabilities and the role of monitoring.

Defining developmental disabilities

Defining developmental disabilities, Difficulties, Cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, Combination of factors, Other relevant factors, Diagnosing developmental disabilities, Milestone Tracker app, Speak up, AAP recommendation, At the appointment

The term "developmental disabilities" refers to a diverse group of conditions that involve mental and/or physical impairments arising before adulthood.

Difficulties

Defining developmental disabilities, Difficulties, Cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, Combination of factors, Other relevant factors, Diagnosing developmental disabilities, Milestone Tracker app, Speak up, AAP recommendation, At the appointment

A person with developmental disabilities may experience difficulties in many areas of life including, but not limited to, language, mobility, and learning.

ADHD

Defining developmental disabilities, Difficulties, Cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, Combination of factors, Other relevant factors, Diagnosing developmental disabilities, Milestone Tracker app, Speak up, AAP recommendation, At the appointment

One example of a developmental disability is attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that causes people to struggle to pay attention or control impulsive behaviors.

ASD

Defining developmental disabilities, Difficulties, Cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, Combination of factors, Other relevant factors, Diagnosing developmental disabilities, Milestone Tracker app, Speak up, AAP recommendation, At the appointment

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) such as Asperger syndrome are also classified as developmental disabilities. These can cause significant communication and behavioral challenges.

Cerebral palsy

Defining developmental disabilities, Difficulties, Cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, Combination of factors, Other relevant factors, Diagnosing developmental disabilities, Milestone Tracker app, Speak up, AAP recommendation, At the appointment

Cerebral palsy (CP) is another group of disorders that comes under the umbrella of developmental disabilities. CP affects a child’s ability to move and maintain balance.

Defining developmental disabilities, Difficulties, Cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, Combination of factors, Other relevant factors, Diagnosing developmental disabilities, Milestone Tracker app, Speak up, AAP recommendation, At the appointment

CP is the most common motor disability in children; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that one in 345 children are affected.

Down syndrome

Defining developmental disabilities, Difficulties, Cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, Combination of factors, Other relevant factors, Diagnosing developmental disabilities, Milestone Tracker app, Speak up, AAP recommendation, At the appointment

Down syndrome is a genetic condition that causes a child to be born with an extra copy of chromosome 21. It is also quite common, occurring in around one in 1,000 babies born each year.

Fragile X syndrome

Defining developmental disabilities, Difficulties, Cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, Combination of factors, Other relevant factors, Diagnosing developmental disabilities, Milestone Tracker app, Speak up, AAP recommendation, At the appointment

Fragile X syndrome (FSX) is a developmental disability that we still do not know much about, although it appears to be more frequent among males.

FASDs

Defining developmental disabilities, Difficulties, Cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, Combination of factors, Other relevant factors, Diagnosing developmental disabilities, Milestone Tracker app, Speak up, AAP recommendation, At the appointment

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) are a group of conditions that can develop in babies whose mothers drank alcohol during pregnancy.

Others

Defining developmental disabilities, Difficulties, Cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, Combination of factors, Other relevant factors, Diagnosing developmental disabilities, Milestone Tracker app, Speak up, AAP recommendation, At the appointment

The list of developmental disabilities listed above is not exhaustive—there are many others that have not been included.

Combination of factors

Defining developmental disabilities, Difficulties, Cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, Combination of factors, Other relevant factors, Diagnosing developmental disabilities, Milestone Tracker app, Speak up, AAP recommendation, At the appointment

It is thought that most developmental disabilities are caused by a complex combination of factors, including genetics, parental health and behaviors during pregnancy, and complications during birth.

Other relevant factors

Defining developmental disabilities, Difficulties, Cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, Combination of factors, Other relevant factors, Diagnosing developmental disabilities, Milestone Tracker app, Speak up, AAP recommendation, At the appointment

Also potentially relevant are any infections the mother may have had during pregnancy, or the baby may have had during early life, as well as exposure to high levels of environmental toxins, such as lead.

Diagnosing developmental disabilities

Defining developmental disabilities, Difficulties, Cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, Combination of factors, Other relevant factors, Diagnosing developmental disabilities, Milestone Tracker app, Speak up, AAP recommendation, At the appointment

Developmental monitoring involves observing how a child grows, and monitoring whether they meet the typical developmental milestones that most children meet by a given age.

Milestone Tracker app

Defining developmental disabilities, Difficulties, Cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, Combination of factors, Other relevant factors, Diagnosing developmental disabilities, Milestone Tracker app, Speak up, AAP recommendation, At the appointment

For example, the CDC has created a Milestone Tracker app to help parents and other providers work together to monitor a child’s development.

Speak up

Defining developmental disabilities, Difficulties, Cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, Combination of factors, Other relevant factors, Diagnosing developmental disabilities, Milestone Tracker app, Speak up, AAP recommendation, At the appointment

Acting early can make a real difference when it comes to developmental disabilities, so do not be afraid to reach out. After all, you know your child best.

AAP recommendation

Defining developmental disabilities, Difficulties, Cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, Combination of factors, Other relevant factors, Diagnosing developmental disabilities, Milestone Tracker app, Speak up, AAP recommendation, At the appointment

Currently the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends developmental and behavioral screening for all children at ages nine, 18, and 30 months.

At the appointment

Defining developmental disabilities, Difficulties, Cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, Combination of factors, Other relevant factors, Diagnosing developmental disabilities, Milestone Tracker app, Speak up, AAP recommendation, At the appointment

At a well-child visit, your child’s doctor or nurse will ask you questions about your child’s development, and may play with your child to see if they are meeting their milestones.

Defining developmental disabilities, Difficulties, Cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, Combination of factors, Other relevant factors, Diagnosing developmental disabilities, Milestone Tracker app, Speak up, AAP recommendation, At the appointment

Your doctor or nurse may also ask about any conditions your child’s family members may have, such as ASD or ADHD.

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