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 disorders. 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. Drinking alcohol when pregnant can cause fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Certain viral infections during 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 Array Angelman syndrome Developmental coordination disorder Developmental Screening Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Intellectual disability Specifics Angelman Syndrome National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Developmental Dyspraxia National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke 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 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 National Institute of Child Health and Human Development What Are Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDDs)? National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Developmental Disabilities National Institutes of Health ClinicalTrials.gov: Mental Retardation National Institutes of Health Encyclopedia Cri du chat syndrome Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome Williams syndrome Related Issues Dental Care Every Day: A Caregiver’s Guide National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research If You’re Concerned – Act Early Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) (For Parents) Nemours Foundation Occupational Therapy (For Parents) Nemours Foundation Outlook for Children with Intellectual Disabilities American Academy of Pediatrics Overview of Early Intervention Center for Parent Information and Resources Partnering with Your Child’s School: A Guide for Parents HSC Foundation 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 Genetics Genetics Home Reference: 15q13.3 microdeletion National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: 15q24 microdeletion National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: 16p11.2 deletion syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: 16p11.2 duplication National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: 18q deletion syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: 1p36 deletion syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: 1q21.1 microdeletion National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: 1q21.1 microduplication National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: 22q11.2 duplication National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: 2q37 deletion syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: 3MC syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: 7q11.23 duplication syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: 9q22.3 microdeletion National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Allan-Herndon-Dudley syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: alpha thalassemia X-linked intellectual disability syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: aminoacylase 1 deficiency National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Angelman syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: arginine:glycine amidinotransferase deficiency National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: aspartylglucosaminuria National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Bowen-Conradi syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: CASK-related intellectual disability National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: cerebral folate transport deficiency National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: CHOPS syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Christianson syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Coffin-Lowry syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Coffin-Siris syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Cornelia de Lange syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Costello syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: cri-du-chat syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Donnai-Barrow syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: DOORS syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Emanuel syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: FG syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: FOXG1 syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: fragile XE syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: genitopatellar syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Gillespie syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: GM3 synthase deficiency National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: guanidinoacetate methyltransferase deficiency National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: isodicentric chromosome 15 syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Jacobsen syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Kabuki syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: KBG syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Kleefstra syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Koolen-de Vries syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Lowe syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Lujan syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Mabry syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: MECP2 duplication syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: microcephaly-capillary malformation syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Mowat-Wilson syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: mucolipidosis type IV National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Myhre syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Nicolaides-Baraitser syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Ohdo syndrome, Maat-Kievit-Brunner type National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Ohdo syndrome, Say-Barber-Biesecker-Young-Simpson variant National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Pallister-Killian mosaic syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Partington syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase deficiency National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Pitt-Hopkins syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: PPM-X syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Renpenning syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: ring chromosome 14 syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Smith-Magenis syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Snyder-Robinson syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: SYNGAP1-related intellectual disability National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: tetrasomy 18p National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: VACTERL association National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Williams syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: X-linked creatine deficiency National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: X-linked infantile spasm syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: X-linked intellectual disability, Siderius type National Library of Medicine Diagnosis and Tests How Do Health Care Providers Diagnose Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (IDDs)? National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Journal Articles Developmental disorders Mental retardation Treatments and Therapies What Are Treatments for Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (IDDs)? National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Children What is an Intellectual Disability? Nemours Foundation Latest News Genetic Insights May Help Kids Battling Developmental Delays HealthDay