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Developmental Disabilities

Developmental disabilities are a group of problems that often include difficulty with physical, thinking and reasoning (intellectual), social, or psychological growth and development.

Some early signs of developmental disabilities in children include:

  • Crawling, sitting up, walking, and talking more slowly (or later) than other children of the same age. A variety of therapies are available to assist children in learning these skills.
  • Not functioning at the same level as other children of the same age in social behavior or thinking processes. It is important that a child's thinking ability and social behavior be closely watched. Appropriate measures should be taken at school, at home, or in other situations to help a child reach his or her potential.

Last Revised: April 3, 2012

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: John Pope, MD - Pediatrics & Fred Volkmar, MD - Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

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