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- Services and providers for Developmental Disabilities in the U.S.
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National Institutes of Health
- The primary NIH organization for research on Developmental Disabilities is the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Developmental Disabilities
Developmental disabilities are birth defects that cause lifelong problems with how a body part or system works. They include
- Nervous system disabilities affecting how the brain, spinal cord and nervous system function. They cause mental retardation, including Down syndrome and fragile X syndrome. They also cause learning and behavioral disorders, such as autism
- Sensory-related disabilities, which can cause vision, hearing and sight problems
- Metabolic disorders such as phenylketonuria, which affect how your body processes the materials it needs to function
- Degenerative disorders such as Rett syndrome, which might only become apparent when children are older and can cause physical and mental problems
Most developmental disabilities have no cure, but you can often treat the symptoms. Physical, speech and occupational therapy might help. Special education classes and psychological counseling can also help.
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Start Here
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Developmental Disabilities
(National Institute of Child Health and Human Development)
| Basics | Learn More | Multimedia & Cool Tools |
|---|---|---|
| Research | Reference Shelf | For You |
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Overviews
- Developmental Disabilities(American Psychiatric Association)
- Developmental Disabilities - An Overview(American Academy of Pediatrics)
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Latest News
- Chromosome Tests Help Study of Kids' Mental Anomalies(09/10/2008, HealthDay)
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Prevention/Screening
- Child Development: Developmental Screening(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
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Newborn Screening Tests(March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation)
Also available in Spanish
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Coping
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Mental Retardation: Learning How to Help Your Child(American Academy of Family Physicians)
Also available in Spanish
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Mental Retardation: What Caregivers Need to Know(American Academy of Family Physicians)
Also available in Spanish
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Mental Retardation: Learning How to Help Your Child(American Academy of Family Physicians)
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Specific Conditions
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Angelman Syndrome(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary
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Developmental Dyspraxia(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
- Intellectual Disability(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
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Mental Retardation(National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities)
Also available in Spanish
- Multisystem Developmental Disorder(Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics Online)
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Williams Syndrome(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
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Angelman Syndrome
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Related Issues
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Communicating with Your Child's School through Letter Writing(National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities)
Also available in Spanish
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Dental Care Every Day: A Caregiver's Guide(National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research)
- Finding Help for Young Children with Disabilities (Birth-5)(National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities)
- Individualized Education Plans (IEPs)(Nemours Foundation)
- Parent Training and Information Centers(National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities)
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Partnering with Your Child's School: A Guide for Parents(HSC Foundation) - Links to PDF
Also available in Spanish
- Sexuality and Intellectual Disability(American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities)
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Communicating with Your Child's School through Letter Writing(National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities)
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Videos
- Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery (Ostetomy)(OR-Live) - Requires media player - One hour program - 4/30/2007
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Clinical Trials
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Developmental Disabilities(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Mental Retardation(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Developmental Disabilities
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Genetics
- Genetics Home Reference: Allan-Herndon-Dudley syndrome(National Library of Medicine)
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Genetics Home Reference: Angelman syndrome(National Library of Medicine)
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Genetics Home Reference: Coffin-Lowry syndrome(National Library of Medicine)
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Genetics Home Reference: Cornelia de Lange syndrome(National Library of Medicine)
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Genetics Home Reference: Costello syndrome(National Library of Medicine)
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Genetics Home Reference: Cri-du-chat syndrome(National Library of Medicine)
- Genetics Home Reference: Mowat-Wilson syndrome(National Library of Medicine)
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Genetics Home Reference: Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome(National Library of Medicine)
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Genetics Home Reference: Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome(National Library of Medicine)
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Genetics Home Reference: Smith-Magenis syndrome(National Library of Medicine)
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Genetics Home Reference: Williams syndrome(National Library of Medicine)
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Research
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Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities(National Institute of Child Health and Human Development)
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Mental Retardation(National Institutes of Health) - Links to PDF
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Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities
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Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Permissive hypercapnia and risk for brain injury and developmental impairment.
- Article: Community supports after surviving extremely low-birth-weight, extremely preterm birth: special...
- Article: Propensity scores.
- Developmental Disabilities -- see more articles
- Mental retardation -- see more articles
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Dictionaries/Glossaries
- Kids' Quest on Disability and Health: Glossary(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
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Directories
- State Councils on Developmental Disabilities(Administration on Developmental Disabilities)
- State Resources (Disability-Related)(National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities)
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Organizations
- Administration on Developmental Disabilities
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National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Also available in Spanish
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National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities
Also available in Spanish
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National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Also available in Spanish
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Law and Policy
- Americans with Disabilities Act - ADA Home Page(Dept. of Justice)
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Disabilities That Qualify Infants, Toddlers, Children, and Youth for Services under the IDEA(National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities)
Also available in Spanish
- Guide to the Individualized Education Program(Dept. of Education)
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Statistics
- Disability Characteristics(Bureau of the Census)
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Children
- Coping with Disaster: Suggestions for Helping Children with Cognitive Disabilities(Administration for Children and Families)
- Kids' Quest on Disability and Health(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Mental Retardation(Nemours Foundation)
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Seniors
- Mental Retardation(AGS Foundation for Health in Aging)
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Date last updated: 11 September 2008 Topic last reviewed: 04 March 2008 |