Developmental disorders in children are to be distinguished from growth disorders in children. The latter mainly refers to physical development, whereas developmental disorders mainly address mental, cognitive, motor, sensory, emotional and social aspects.
What are developmental disabilities?
Developmental disorders in children manifest themselves in lowly developed functions in one or more different areas of life. If they are mental developmental disorders in children, intelligence is often diminished. Thinking is slowed down and emotional behavior is disturbed. In addition, developmental disorders in children manifest themselves in poor language comprehension. The ability to speak is also retarded. Affected children also have difficulty caring for themselves. If motor development disorders occur in children, clumsy behavior is particularly prominent in complex movement sequences. Painting and handicrafts, for example, are problematic, as are ball games or jumping on one leg. The children affected are always noticeably behind their peers in their development. Around three percent of all children in Germany are affected by developmental disorders in children. Boys are affected more frequently than girls.
Causes
Developmental disorders in children do not always have identifiable causes. Motor development disorders in children are sometimes inherited. Causes can also be harmful influences around birth, such as a lack of oxygen. Developmental disorders in children can also be caused by brain malformations. Mental developmental disorders in children are almost always congenital or result from an infection during pregnancy. Meningitis, a serious accident with cranial injuries, and metabolic diseases can also be decisive factors. It is known that an experienced trauma can trigger developmental disorders in children. Not infrequently, the mother’s poor lifestyle is also responsible for mental and physical fehelndevelopment. Smoking, drugs and alcohol consumption during pregnancy can cause serious developmental disorders in the child. Sometimes no cause is found for developmental disorders in children.
Symptoms, complaints, and signs
Developmental disorders in children can be very different and also have a variety of manifestations. For this reason, a general prediction of the symptoms is usually not possible. However, in any case, these disorders result in significantly delayed development in the affected child and thus also in limitations and complaints in adulthood. The children suffer from disorders of growth and mental or motor development. This results in short stature or underdevelopment of various parts of the body, so that the children suffer from restricted movement. Mental development is also significantly slowed, resulting in reduced intelligence and possibly retardation. It is not possible to predict whether these disorders can be corrected, since the further course depends strongly on the cause of the developmental disorders in children. In addition, the patients may have various malformations, and the internal organs may also be affected. For this reason, the developmental disorders in children in some cases lead to a reduced life expectancy in the patient. The disorders can also have a negative effect on the psyche, so that some of those affected suffer from depression or other psychological upsets. This can also affect parents or family members.
Diagnosis
Developmental disorders in children are often identified by a psychologist, pediatrician or physiotherapist. The child’s developmental status is examined and assessed using a point system. The diagnosis of developmental disorders in children should never be made alone, but always as a team. Misjudgements and the resulting wrong measures should be avoided. Some children are simply late bloomers. This should not lead to them being prematurely stamped “developmentally disabled.” Some lay people assume that developmental disabilities will grow out of children. This is wrong. Mental developmental disorders in children cannot be cured.Only mild motor development disorders in children can be improved by plenty of exercise. In general, developmental disorders in children must be recognized and properly treated as soon as possible.
When should you go to the doctor?
Developmental disorders in children should be clarified by a doctor as soon as they are noticed in everyday life. If children develop conspicuously compared to their peers, consultation with a doctor is necessary. Developmental delays, on the other hand, are considered normal and do not require medical attention. In most cases, children make up for the delay over the course of the next few years. Developmental disorders involve abnormalities in mental or motor skills. Children should be examined by a doctor if their social behavior is off the norm. Aggressive or unusually passive behavior should be discussed with a physician. If limbs cannot be used in the usual way or if children respond to sensory stimuli in an abnormal way, further investigation is necessary. Apathetic behavior, persistent tilting of the head, or inability to make eye movements synchronously and voluntarily should be presented to a physician. If the child does not learn to understand speech or shows decreased intelligence, he or she should be examined by a physician. If movements cannot be coordinated or independent locomotion is not possible, the child requires medical assistance. If normal leisure activities such as playing or painting with the children are limited, a visit to the doctor should be made.
Treatment and therapy
Mild developmental disorders in children progress positively with the right therapy. Minor motor deficits can actually disappear permanently with a lot of practice. Mental developmental disorders in children cannot be treated with therapy. Occupational therapy is often used for treatment. An alarm signal for developmental disorders in children is always delayed speech development. This is recognized by the pediatrician during scheduled examinations. Already at the age of two, developmental disorders in children are visible in this area. Speech disorders are treated by speech therapists. Indispensable is the way to the ENT doctor. It is possible that problems with hearing hinder speech development. The therapy of developmental disorders in children should always include an increase in self-esteem. A child who is supported and encouraged has more confidence in himself. In general, everyone should be careful not to treat the child with ridicule or malice. Otherwise, fears and disturbances in social behavior will quickly develop. Judo and swimming can help to improve the entire movement process in the case of motor development disorders. In the two best-known forms of developmental disorders in children (autism and Rett syndrome), the prognosis is not very favorable. Nevertheless, the course can be positively influenced to a certain degree by appropriate treatment.
Outlook and prognosis
Developmental disorders in children have an unfavorable prognosis. Modern therapeutic options as well as early medical care can alleviate many symptoms. Nevertheless, complete recovery rarely occurs in affected children. The therapeutic goal in many developmental disorders is to improve the existing living conditions as well as to prolong the predicted life span. However, a comprehensive prognosis can only be made according to the individual disorder pattern. In the case of mental development disorders, the use of targeted training to build memory helps. This increases cognitive performance. In the case of motor development disorders, logopedic methods are used. Individual exercises are worked out in cooperation with the patient as well as the relatives. These can be performed independently as well as with therapeutic support. The more frequently and intensively the training sessions are implemented, the better the prognosis often is. Surgical interventions offer the possibility of corrections for countless malformations. The goal is to optimize the existing quality of life, since despite medical progress, it is often not possible to achieve the natural physical functioning or appearance. If psychological problems are known to be the cause of developmental disorders in children, psychotherapeutic measures are used.Experienced traumas or bad living conditions of the expectant mother during pregnancy should be processed and overcome in this way.
Prevention
The best way to prevent developmental disorders in children is to take advantage of the preventive examinations offered by the pediatrician. The doctor detects any developmental disorder in children in time and can initiate the appropriate measures. So that the developmental disorders in children do not develop into permanent disorders. It is also important that the child receives a lot of personal attention and care already as a baby. So that it can mature mentally and physically.
Aftercare
In the case of developmental disorders in children, various aftercare measures are available to the parents and the children. However, first and foremost, the developmental disorders in children should be investigated and treated. In this case, the children are usually dependent on intensive therapy to reduce or completely limit these disorders. They need intensive support. Even at home, small exercises can help to minimize the developmental disorders in children. Parents usually find support from the supervising teachers or educators. Furthermore, a lot of patience is required from the parents and usually also from the relatives of the children with developmental disorders in children. The parents must understand this disorder in order to get involved. The children must not be overburdened, as this can have a negative effect on the treatment of these disorders. Often the parents can be supported by friends or relatives in everyday life. Loving care of the children can also have a positive effect on the course of these disorders. As a rule, developmental disorders in children do not reduce their life expectancy.
What you can do yourself
In the case of a child developmental disorder, comprehensive information about the causes and diagnostic background of the existing disorder is important. Support options for the offspring, which are tailored to the needs and possibilities of the child, should be developed and implemented individually and in close cooperation with the doctor. In many cases, parents and close relatives need additional psychological support. This is helpful in coming to terms with the situation and the circumstances. The child’s illness has an immense influence on the daily routines of all those affected. It leads to a change in life, which is often associated with various restrictions. To ensure that expectations of the child due to the disease are not too high, people in the social environment need to be well informed. With a positive and optimistic attitude towards life, improvements can be achieved in living together for the child and the parents. Acceptance of the situation is necessary in order not to cause additional illnesses or psychological problems. Comparison with the development possibilities of children of the same age should be completely avoided. Leisure activities and school opportunities should be adapted to the child’s wishes and needs. It is important to create a sense of achievement for the child in order to promote motivation and build enjoyment of learning.
