Facts About Developmental Disabilities

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Developmental disabilities are a group of conditions due to an impairment in

physical, learning, language, or behavior areas. These conditions begin during the
developmental period, may impact day-to-day functioning, and usually last
throughout a person’s lifetime. 1

Developmental Milestones
Skills such as taking a first step, smiling for the first time, and waving “bye-bye”
are called developmental milestones. Children reach milestones in how they play,
learn, speak, behave, and move (for example, crawling and walking).

Children develop at their own pace, so it’s impossible to tell exactly when a child
will learn a given skill. However, the developmental milestones give a general
idea of the changes to expect as a child gets older.

As a parent, you know your child best. If your child is not meeting the milestones
for his or her age, or if you think there could be a problem with the way your
child plays, learns, speaks, acts, or moves, talk to your child’s doctor and share
your concerns. Don’t wait. Acting early can make a real difference!

Milestones children should reach »

What to do if you’re concerned »

Developmental Monitoring and Screening
A child’s growth and development are followed through a partnership between
parents and health care professionals. At each well-child visit, the doctor looks for
developmental delays or problems and talks with the parents about any concerns
the parents might have. This is called developmental monitoring.

Any problems noticed during developmental monitoring should be followed up

with developmental screening. Developmental screening is a short test to tell if a
child is learning basic skills when he or she should, or if there are delays.

If a child has a developmental delay, it is important to get help as soon as

possible. Early identification and intervention can have a significant impact on a
child’s ability to learn new skills, as well as reduce the need for costly
interventions over time.

Developmental monitoring and screening »

Causes and Risk Factors

Developmental disabilities begin anytime during the
developmental period and usually last throughout a
person’s lifetime. Most developmental disabilities begin
before a baby is born, but some can happen after birth because of injury,
infection, or other factors.

Most developmental disabilities are thought to be caused by a complex mix of

factors. These factors include genetics; parental health and behaviors (such as
smoking and drinking) during pregnancy; complications during birth; infections
the mother might have during pregnancy or the baby might have very early in
life; and exposure of the mother or child to high levels of environmental toxins,
such as lead. For some developmental disabilities, such as fetal alcohol syndrome,
which is caused by drinking alcohol during pregnancy, we know the cause. But for
most, we don’t.

Following are some examples of what we know about specific developmental

disabilities:

 At least 25% of hearing loss among babies is due to maternal infections

during pregnancy, such as cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection; complications
after birth; and head trauma.
 Some of the most common known causes of intellectual disability
include fetal alcohol syndrome disorder; genetic and chromosomal conditions,
such as Down syndrome and fragile X syndrome; and certain infections during
pregnancy.
 Children who have a sibling with autism spectrum disorder are at a higher
risk of also having autism spectrum disorder.
 Low birthweight, premature birth, multiple birth, and infections during
pregnancy are associated with an increased risk for many developmental
disabilities.
 Untreated newborn jaundice (high levels of bilirubin in the blood during
the first few days after birth) can cause a type of brain damage known as
kernicterus. Children with kernicterus are more likely to have cerebral palsy,
hearing and vision problems, and problems with their teeth. Early detection
and treatment of newborn jaundice can prevent kernicterus.

The Study to Explore Early Development (SEED) is a multiyear study funded by

CDC. It is currently the largest study in the United States to help identify factors
that may put children at risk for autism spectrum disorders and other
developmental disabilities.

Learn more about SEED »

Who Is Affected
Developmental disabilities occur among all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic
groups. Recent estimates in the United States show that about one in six, or
about 17%, of children aged 3 through 17 years have one or more developmental
disabilities, such as:

 ADHD,
 autism spectrum disorder,
 cerebral palsy,
 hearing loss,
 intellectual disability,
 learning disability,
 vision impairment,
 and other developmental delays. 2

Learn more about the number of children in the U.S. with developmental
disabilities »

For over a decade, CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring

(ADDM) Network has been tracking the number and characteristics of children
with autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, and intellectual disability in several
diverse communities throughout the United States.

CDC’s tracking of the number and characteristics of children with autism

spectrum disorder »
CDC’s tracking of the number and characteristics of children with cerebral palsy »

Living With a Developmental Disability

Children and adults with disabilities need health care and health programs for the
same reasons anyone else does—to stay well, active, and a part of the
community.

Having a disability does not mean a person is not healthy or that he or she
cannot be healthy. Being healthy means the same thing for all of us—getting and
staying well so we can lead full, active lives. That includes having the tools and
information to make healthy choices and knowing how to prevent illness. Some
health conditions, such as asthma, gastrointestinal symptoms, eczema and skin
allergies, and migraine headaches, have been found to be more common among
children with developmental disabilities. Thus, it is especially important for
children with developmental disabilities to see a health care provider regularly.
Learn more about healthy living »

CDC does not study education or treatment programs for people with
developmental disabilities, nor does it provide direct services to people with
developmental disabilities or to their families. However, CDC has put together a
list of resources for people affected by developmental disabilities.

List of developmental disabilities resources »

References
1. Developmental Disabilities: Delivery of Medical Care for Children and
Adults. I. Leslie Rubin and Allen C. Crocker. Philadelphia, Pa, Lea & Febiger,
1989.
2. Zablotsky B, Black LI, Maenner MJ, Schieve LA, Danielson ML, Bitsko RH,
Blumberg SJ, Kogan MD, Boyle CA. Prevalence and Trends of Developmental
Disabilities among Children in the US: 2009–2017. Pediatrics.
2019; 144(4):e20190811.