Causes and risk factors
Most developmental disorders are thought to be caused by a complex combination of factors, including genetics, the health or behavior of the parents during pregnancy (such as smoking or drinking alcohol), complications during birth, infections in the mother during pregnancy or the baby early in life, and exposure of the mother or child to high levels of environmental toxins such as lead. Although the causes of some developmental disorders are known, such as fetal alcohol syndrome, which is caused by drinking alcohol during pregnancy, the causes of most are unknown.
Below are some examples of what we know about specific developmental disorders:
At least 25% of hearing loss in infants is due to maternal infections during pregnancy, such as cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, complications after birth, and head trauma. The most common known causes of intellectual disability include fetal alcohol syndrome, genetic and chromosomal abnormalities, such as Down syndrome and fragile X syndrome, and certain infections during pregnancy. Children who have siblings with autism spectrum disorder are at higher risk for autism spectrum disorder. Low birth weight, premature birth, multiple births, and infections during pregnancy are associated with an increased risk of many developmental disorders. Untreated neonatal jaundice (high bilirubin levels in the blood in the first few days after birth) can lead to a type of brain damage called kernicterus. Children with kernicterus are more likely to have cerebral palsy, hearing and vision problems, and dental problems. Early detection and treatment of neonatal jaundice can prevent kernicterus.
The Study of Early Development (SEED) is a multi-year CDC-funded study that is currently the largest in the U.S. to help identify factors that may put children at risk for autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disorders.
Who is affected?
Developmental disorders occur across all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups. Recent estimates in the United States suggest that about 1 in 6 children between the ages of 3 and 17, or about 17%, have one or more developmental disorders, including:
For more than a decade, CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network has tracked the numbers and characteristics of children with autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, and intellectual disabilities in diverse communities across the United States.
Healthy Living for People with Disabilities
Children and adults with disabilities need health care and wellness programs for the same reasons as everyone else: to stay healthy, active, and part of their communities.
Having a disability does not mean that you are not healthy or cannot be healthy. Being healthy means the same thing for all of us: getting and staying healthy so that you can live a fulfilling and active life. This includes having the tools and information to make healthy choices and knowing how to prevent illness. Health conditions such as asthma, gastrointestinal symptoms, eczema or skin allergies, and migraines have been found to be more common in children with developmental disabilities. Therefore, it is especially important that children with developmental disabilities see their health care provider regularly.
The CDC does not study education or treatment programs for people with developmental disabilities and does not provide services directly to people with developmental disabilities or their families. However, the CDC has compiled a list of resources for people affected by developmental disabilities.
Don’t wait!
Addressing developmental concerns early can make a big difference for your child and for you. If you’re worried about your child’s development, don’t hesitate to act. You know your child best.