- Acute Flaccid Myelitis
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Arteriovenous Malformations
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Back Pain
- Brain Aneurysm
- Brain Tumors
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Childhood Brain Tumors
- Delirium
- Dementia
- Hemorrhagic Stroke
- Ischemic Stroke
- Memory
- Meningitis
- Mild Cognitive Impairment
- Movement Disorders
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Neuroblastoma
- Neuromuscular Disorders
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Polio and Post-Polio Syndrome
- Speech and Language Problems in Children
- Stroke
- Transient Ischemic Attack
- Tremor
- Walking Problems
- West Nile Virus
- A1C
- Blood Glucose
- Diabetes
- Diabetes and Pregnancy
- Diabetes Complications
- Diabetes in Children and Teens
- Diabetes Medicines
- Diabetes Type 1
- Diabetes Type 2
- Diabetic Diet
- Diabetic Eye Problems
- Diabetic Foot
- Diabetic Heart Disease
- Diabetic Kidney Problems
- Diabetic Nerve Problems
- How to Prevent Diabetes
- Hyperglycemia
- Metabolic Syndrome
- Prediabetes
- Abortion
- Breast Cancer
- Breast Diseases
- Breast Reconstruction
- Breastfeeding
- Cervical Cancer
- Cervical Cancer Screening
- Cesarean Delivery
- Childbirth
- Ectopic Pregnancy
- Endometriosis
- Female Infertility
- Health Problems in Pregnancy
- High Blood Pressure in Pregnancy
- HIV and Pregnancy
- Hormone Replacement Therapy
- HPV
- Hysterectomy
- Infections and Pregnancy
- Mammography
- Mastectomy
- Menopause
- Menstruation
- Miscarriage
- Ovarian Cancer
- Ovarian Cysts
- Ovarian Disorders
- Pelvic Floor Disorders
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
- Pelvic Pain
- Period Pain
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
- Pregnancy
- Pregnancy and Drug Use
- Pregnancy and Opioids
- Premenstrual Syndrome
- Prenatal Care
- Prenatal Testing
- Primary Ovarian Insufficiency
- Sexual Problems in Women
- Stillbirth
- Teenage Pregnancy
- Trichomoniasis
- Tubal Ligation
- Uterine Cancer
- Uterine Diseases
- Uterine Fibroids
- Vaginal Bleeding
- Vaginal Cancer
- Vaginal Diseases
- Vaginitis
- Vulvar Cancer
- Vulvar Disorders
- Yeast Infections
- Alcohol
- Calcium
- Child Nutrition
- Cholesterol
- Cholesterol Levels: What You Need to Know
- Cholesterol Medicines
- DASH Eating Plan
- Eating Disorders
- Food Allergy
- HDL: The “Good” Cholesterol
- High Cholesterol in Children and Teens
- How to Lower Cholesterol
- How to Lower Cholesterol with Diet
- Infant and Newborn Nutrition
- LDL: The “Bad” Cholesterol
- Malabsorption Syndromes
- Nutrition for Older Adults
- Pregnancy and Nutrition
- Toddler Nutrition
- Triglycerides
- VLDL Cholesterol
- Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency
- Ataxia Telangiectasia
- Brain Malformations
- Cerebral Palsy
- Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease
- Chiari Malformation
- Cleft Lip and Palate
- Color Blindness
- Congenital Heart Defects
- Craniofacial Abnormalities
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
- Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
- Friedreich Ataxia
- Genetic Counseling
- Hemophilia
- Huntington’s Disease
- Hydrocephalus
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Neural Tube Defects
- Neurofibromatosis
- Newborn Screening
- Osteogenesis Imperfecta
- Prader-Willi Syndrome
- Pregnancy and Medicines
- Rett Syndrome
- Sickle Cell Disease
- Spina Bifida
- Spinal Muscular Atrophy
- Tay-Sachs Disease
- Tourette Syndrome
- Tuberous Sclerosis
- Usher Syndrome
- Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia
- Allergy
- Animal Bites
- Ankylosing Spondylitis
- Aplastic Anemia
- Asthma
- Asthma in Children
- Childhood Leukemia
- Childhood Vaccines
- Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
- COVID-19 Vaccines
- Cryptosporidiosis
- Eosinophilic Disorders
- Eosinophilic Esophagitis
- Giant Cell Arteritis
- Hay Fever
- HIV
- HIV and Infections
- HIV in Women
- Hodgkin Lymphoma
- Infectious Diseases
- Infectious Mononucleosis
- Juvenile Arthritis
- Kawasaki Disease
- Lymphedema
- Lymphoma
- Multiple Myeloma
- Pemphigus
- Pneumocystis Infections
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Scleroderma
- Sjogren’s Syndrome
- Tonsillitis
- Vaccines
- Viral Infections
- Adhesions
- Ankle Injuries and Disorders
- Arm Injuries and Disorders
- Back Injuries
- Brachial Plexus Injuries
- Burns
- Chest Injuries and Disorders
- Concussion
- CPR
- Dislocated Shoulder
- Dislocations
- Elbow Injuries and Disorders
- Eye Injuries
- Facial Injuries and Disorders
- Finger Injuries and Disorders
- Foot Injuries and Disorders
- Fractures
- Hand Injuries and Disorders
- Heel Injuries and Disorders
- Hip Injuries and Disorders
- Inhalation Injuries
- Insect Bites and Stings
- Jaw Injuries and Disorders
- Knee Injuries and Disorders
- Leg Injuries and Disorders
- Mosquito Bites
- Neck Injuries and Disorders
- Rotator Cuff Injuries
- Shoulder Injuries and Disorders
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Sprains and Strains
- Tick Bites
- Toe Injuries and Disorders
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Wrist Injuries and Disorders
- Acute Bronchitis
- Bird Flu
- Chronic Bronchitis
- COPD
- COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019)
- Croup
- E-Cigarettes
- Fistulas
- Flu
- Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis
- H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu)
- Legionnaires’ Disease
- Lung Cancer
- Mesothelioma
- Pneumonia
- Pulmonary Hypertension
- Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections
- Sleep Apnea
- Smoking
- Tuberculosis
- Whooping Cough
- Anatomy
- Assisted Reproductive Technology
- Birth Control
- Chlamydia Infections
- Circumcision
- Erectile Dysfunction
- Genital Herpes
- Genital Warts
- Gonorrhea
- Herpes Simplex
- Infertility
- Male Infertility
- Penis Disorders
- Prostate Cancer
- Prostate Cancer Screening
- Prostate Diseases
- Reproductive Hazards
- Sexual Health
- Sexual Problems in Men
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases
- Syphilis
- Testicular Cancer
- Testicular Disorders
- Vasectomy
- Abdominal Pain
- Bad Breath
- Bleeding
- Breathing Problems
- Bruises
- Chest Pain
- Choking
- Chronic Pain
- Constipation
- Cough
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness and Vertigo
- Edema
- Fainting
- Fever
- Frostbite
- Gas
- Gastrointestinal Bleeding
- Headache
- Heartburn
- Heat Illness
- Hives
- Hypothermia
- Indigestion
- Itching
- Jaundice
- Nausea and Vomiting
- Pain
- Rare Diseases
- Raynaud’s Disease
- Sciatica
- Speech and Communication Disorders
- Stuttering
Developmental Disabilities
Summary
Developmental disabilities are severe, long-term problems. They may be physical, such as blindness. They may affect mental ability, such as learning disabilities. Or the problem can be both physical and mental, such as Down syndrome. The problems are usually life-long, and can affect everyday living.
There are many causes of developmental disabilities, including:
- Genetic or chromosome abnormalities. These cause conditions such as Down syndrome and Rett syndrome.
- Prenatal exposure to substances. For example, drinking alcohol when pregnant can cause fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
- Certain infections in pregnancy
- Preterm birth
Often there is no cure, but treatment can help the symptoms. Treatments include physical, speech, and occupational therapy. Special education classes and psychological counseling can also help.
NIH: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Genetics
- 15q13.3 microdeletion: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- 16p11.2 deletion syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- 16p11.2 duplication: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- 16p12.2 microdeletion: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- 17q12 deletion syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- 17q12 duplication: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- 19p13.13 deletion syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- 1p36 deletion syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- 1q21.1 microdeletion: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- 1q21.1 microduplication: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- 3p deletion syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- 3q29 microdeletion syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- 3q29 microduplication syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- 5q31.3 microdeletion syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- 7q11.23 duplication syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- 9q22.3 microdeletion: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Acrocallosal syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- ADNP syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Allan-Herndon-Dudley syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Alpha thalassemia X-linked intellectual disability syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Aminoacylase 1 deficiency: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Angelman syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Aspartylglucosaminuria: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- CASK-related intellectual disability: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- CDKL5 deficiency disorder: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Cerebro-facio-thoracic dysplasia: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- CHOPS syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Christianson syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Coffin-Lowry syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Coffin-Siris syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Cohen syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Cornelia de Lange syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Costello syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Cri-du-chat syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy 1: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Distal 18q deletion syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Donnai-Barrow syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Emanuel syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- FG syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- FOXG1 syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Fragile XE syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Genitopatellar syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- HIVEP2-related intellectual disability: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- HSD10 disease: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Jacobsen syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Kabuki syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Kaufman oculocerebrofacial syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- KBG syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- KCNK9 imprinting syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Kleefstra syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Koolen-de Vries syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Lowe syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Lujan syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Mabry syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- MBD5-associated neurodevelopmental disorder: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- MECP2 duplication syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- MED13L syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Microcephaly-capillary malformation syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Monoamine oxidase A deficiency: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Mowat-Wilson syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Mucolipidosis type IV: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Neurodevelopmental disorder with or without anomalies of the brain, eye, or heart: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Ohdo syndrome, Maat-Kievit-Brunner type: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Ohdo syndrome, Say-Barber-Biesecker-Young-Simpson variant: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Pallister-Killian mosaic syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Partington syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Pitt-Hopkins syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Potocki-Lupski syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- PPM-X syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- PPP2R5D-related intellectual disability: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- PURA syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- RAB18 deficiency: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Renpenning syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Ring chromosome 14 syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- SATB2-associated syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Smith-Magenis syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Snyder-Robinson syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- SYNGAP1-related intellectual disability: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Tetrasomy 18p: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- VACTERL association: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- White-Sutton syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Williams syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- X-linked intellectual disability, Siderius type: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Xia-Gibbs syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Yuan-Harel-Lupski syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
Patient Handouts
- Angelman syndrome Medical Encyclopedia
- Developmental coordination disorder Medical Encyclopedia
- Intellectual disability Medical Encyclopedia
Specifics
- Angelman Syndrome National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
- Developmental Dyspraxia National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
- Facts about Intellectual Disability Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Intellectual Disability Center for Parent Information and Resources
- Learning about Cri du Chat Syndrome National Human Genome Research Institute
- Williams Syndrome National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Living With
- Caring for a Person Who Has Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities American Academy of Family Physicians
Find an Expert
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Start Here
- Children with an Intellectual Disability American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Developmental Disabilities Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Facts about Developmental Disabilities Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
- What Are Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDDs)? Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Developmental Disabilities National Institutes of Health
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Intellectual Disability National Institutes of Health
Related Issues
- Concerned about Your Child’s Development? Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Developmental Disabilities & Oral Health National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
- Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) (For Parents) Nemours Foundation
- Overview of Early Intervention Center for Parent Information and Resources
- Physical Therapy (For Parents) Nemours Foundation
- Sexuality and Intellectual Disability American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
- Speech-Language Therapy (For Parents) Nemours Foundation
- Taking Your Child to a Therapist Nemours Foundation
- What Is a Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrician? American Academy of Pediatrics
Encyclopedia
- Cri du chat syndrome Medical Encyclopedia
- Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome Medical Encyclopedia
- Williams syndrome Medical Encyclopedia
Diagnosis and Tests
- Developmental and Behavioral Screening Tests National Library of Medicine
- Developmental Monitoring and Screening Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- How Do Health Care Providers Diagnose Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDDs)? Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
- Why Act Early if You’re Concerned about Development? Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Journal Articles
Treatments and Therapies
- What Should I Do if I Think My Child Has an IDD? Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development