pathoscribe

Written by Diya Desikan | Art by Srivalli Adarapu

Developmental disabilities affect one in six children in the United States. It is a group of conditions that stem from physical, learning, language, or behavioral disabilities. Despite its raging prevalence, many people stigmatize developmental disabilities due to commonly perpetuated stereotypes. This March is dedicated towards spreading awareness of developmental disabilities and the people they affect. 

Developmental disabilities usually begin during the developmental period of a child’s life, generally manifesting themselves before the child is born. However, it is possible to develop one of these disabilities due to injury, infections, or other factors. These other factors include genetics, parent health and behavior during pregnancy (drinking, smoking, etc), birth complications, infections experienced by either child or mother, or exposure to environmental toxins such as lead, to name a few. 

Common types of developmental disabilities include ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, fragile x syndrome, tourette’s syndrome, intellectual disabilities, and language and learning disorders. 

Intellectual disabilities are the most common form of developmental disabilities, and can be caused by some infections contracted during pregnancy. These disabilities vary in levels of impact. Some people with intellectual disabilities may find it difficult to tell others what they want or need, as well as have a slower development than other children their age. It can also occur due to injury, disease, or some problem in the brain. 

Developmental monitoring is the process of watching children develop and observing if they meet the developmental milestones that most children reach at a certain age. These milestones include sitting, crawling, walking, and talking, to name a few. When a child does not meet these milestones at the expected time that most children do, it is important to talk to a doctor or medical professional about these concerns. Developmental screening is a more formal check up, and is done when the child is 9 months, 18 months, and 24 months. 

It is important to note doctors can only diagnose these disabilities, as there is no cure for developmental disabilities, and once they manifest in a child, the child will likely have that disability for the rest of their life. Some disabilities have coping mechanisms, such as pills, or lifestyle changes that may make living with it easier. For that reason, it is also important to understand that having a developmental disability does not equate to being less than, or not as worthy as neurotypicals or people that are not affected. Those that have developmental disorders develop and tend to interact with the world in a way that is not “aligned” with the social norms of our society. We cannot let biases and stereotypes cloud our judgements, and infantilize or judge those that are affected. 

Works Cited:

“Facts about Developmental Disabilities.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 27 Apr. 2022, http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/developmentaldisabilities/facts.html. 

“Developmental Disabilities.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 29 Apr. 2022, http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/developmentaldisabilities/index.html. 

“Causes and Risk Factors.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 28 Apr. 2022, http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/developmentaldisabilities/causes-and-risk-factors.html. 

“Facts about Intellectual Disability.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 10 May 2022, http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/developmentaldisabilities/facts-about-intellectual-disability.html.

 “Child Development Specific Conditions.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 22 Apr. 2022, http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/developmentaldisabilities/conditions.html.