Developmental Disabilities

By: Candace Smith and Rachel Baker

Why we chose this topic…

We chose this topic because we wanted to do something that one of us knew at least a little bit about, and we chose developmental disabilities because my grandma fosters 6 developmentally disabled adults, so I have grown up with them all of my life. Also a majority of my family works for Dolphin Residential Services which is a home where developmental adults can go to live and get care when their families cant support them for whatever reason. Also I volunteer in a class at church called “Son-beams” which is a class for developmentally disabled adults to go to on Sundays. Rachel has also come and helped take them on outings and gone to church with me/them before! By telling the class about this subject we hope to help them see that people with developmental disabilities are people like us and not people to make fun of.

What is Autism

Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life

Affects the functioning of the brain Children and adults with autism typically

have difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communications, social interactions, and leisure or play activities

Autism-History 1943-Leo Kanner published a case study, “Autistic

disturbances of affective contact”, of 11 children of which all of the children had a number of common characteristics. He characterized the children of having “extreme autistic aloneness.”

1944-Hans Asberger published an article, “Autistic psychopathy in childhood”, which presented a case study of which several children were referred to as “a particularly interesting and highly recognizable type of child.”

Both Kanner and Asberger used the term “autism” and “autistic” to describe the children.

In 1943 and 1944 the terms “autistic disturbances,” and “autistic psychopathy” became more the just adjectives, The term “Autism” became a syndrome.

Autism-How it is caused There is no known single

cause for autism, but it is generally accepted to be caused by:

Abnormalities in brain structure or function-brain scans show differences in shape and structure of the brain in autistic versus non autistic

Heredity, genetics, and medical problems

Patterns of autism related disabilities in family

No single gene has been identified as causing autism

Some are born with a susceptibility to autism

A cluster of unstable genes that may interfere with brain development

Problems during pregnancy or delivery

Environmental factors-viral infections, metabolic imbalances, and exposure to environmental chemicals

Certain medical conditions-Fragile X syndrome, tuberous sclerosis, congenital rubella syndrome, and untreated phenylketonuria (PKU)

Harmful substances during pregnancy

MMR vaccine could contribute to autism in a small number of children

Autism-Characteristics Insistence on sameness;

resistance to change Difficulty expressing needs (uses

gestures or pointing instead of words)

Repeating words or phrases in place of normal language

Laughing, crying, and showing other emotions for reasons not apparent to others

Prefers to be alone Difficulty interacting with others Doesn’t respond to verbal cues;

acts like they are deaf when hearing test=normal

Little or no eye contact Doesn’t want to cuddle or be

cuddled Unresponsive to normal teaching

methods Sustained odd play Spins objects Inappropriate attachments to

objects Over or under sensitivity to pain No fear of danger Extreme physical over/under

activity Uneven motor skills Tantrums

Autism-Diagnosis CARS rating system (Childhood

Autism Rating Scale), developed by Eric Scholper in the early 1870’s, is based on observed behavior using a 15 point scale, professionals evaluate a child’s relationship to people, body use, adaptation to change, listening response, and verbal communication.

The Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (CHAT) is used to screen for autism at 18 months of age. It was developed by Simon Baron-Cohen in the early 1990’s to see if autism could be detected in children as early as 18 months. The screening tool uses a short questionnaire with 2 sections, 1 prepared by the parents, the other by the child’s doctor/pediatrician.

The Autism Screening Questionnaire is a 40 item screening scale that has been used with children 4 and older to help evaluate communication skills and social functioning.

The Screening Test for Autism in Two-Year Olds, being developed by Wendy Stone at Vanderbilt, uses direct observations to study behavioral features in children under two. She has identified three skills areas- play, motor imitation, and joint attention- that seem to indicate Autism.

Autism…

Is not caused by bad parenting Is not a mental illness Autistic children are not unruly kids Is not caused by psychological factors in

the child’s development

Autism Facts

Effects an estimate of every 1 in 250 births. 1.5 million Americans today are believed to have some

form of autism. Autism is growing at a rate of 10-17 percent per year. Autism could reached 4 million Americans in the next

decade. Autism is 4 times more likely to occur in boys than girls. Autism knows no racial, ethnic, or social boundaries. Family income, lifestyle, and education levels do not

effect the chance of autisms occurrence.

Cerebral Palsy-What is it It’s a term used to describe a

group of chronic conditions affecting body movements and muscle coordination.

“Cerebral” refers to the brain and “palsy” to a disorder of movement or posture.

Children with Cerebral palsy may not be able to walk, talk, eat, or play in the same ways as other children.

Cerebral Palsy is not a disease or an illness. It isn’t contagious and it doesn’t get worse

Children who have cerebral Palsy will have it all there lives.

Depending on what part of the brain was damaged, one or more of the following may occur:

Muscle tightness or spasm Involuntary movement Disturbance in gait and mobility Abnormal sensation and

perception Impairment of sight, hearing or

speech Seizures

Cerebral Palsy-History There have been

children with cerebral palsy as long as there have been children

The medical profession did not begin to study cerebral palsy as a distinct medical condition until 1861

The term came into use in the late 1800’s

Dr. Little believed most cases of cerebral palsy were caused by obstetrical complications at birth

Children with cerebral palsy often had other problems such as mental retardation, visual disturbances, and seizures

Cerebral Palsy-How it’s Caused Brain damage: 2 things that can cause brain damage are: Failure of the brain to develop properly (developmental brain

malformation) and Neurological damage to the child's developing brain

Developmental malformations can occur from: the fetuses brain failing to develop the usual number of brain cells Communication between brain cells is impaired Brain cells may not migrate to the areas they are supposed to Genetic disorders Chromosome abnormalities (w/ too little or too much genetic

material) Faulty blood supply to the brain

Cerebral Palsy-continued

Neurological damage can occur from: Lack of oxygen before, during, or after birth Bleeding in the brain Toxic injuries, or poisoning, from alcohol or drugs used

by the mother Head trauma resulting from a birth injury, fall, car

accident, or other cause Severe jaundice, very low glucose levels, or other

metabolic disorders Infections of the nervous system such as encephalitis or

meningitis

Cerebral Palsy-Diagnosis

Within the first 6 months of birth you may notice some or all of the following symptoms:

Lethargy Irratability/fussyness Abnormal high pitched cry Trembling of the arms or legs Poor feeding abilities Low muscle tone Abnormal posture Abnormal reflexes Seizures Staring spells Eye fluttering Body twitching Muscle tone may change gradually (floppy to

stiff) Hold their hands in tight fists One side of the body may move more easily

After 6 months it is more apparent that the child is picking up movement skills slower then others. When you take your child to the doctor they are more likely to use broader terms, rather then “cerebral palsy”, because over time a child’s nervous system organizes and may possibly repair itself. Other terms doctors may use are:

Static encephalopathy-abnormal brain functioning that will not get worse

Motor disability-long term movement problem

Developmental delay-slower then normal to pick up movement skills

Neuromotor dysfunction-delayed maturing of the nervous system

Central nervous system dysfunction-brain is functioning improperly

Cerebral Palsy-Statistics

More people have cerebral palsy then any other developmental disability

About 2 out of every 1,000 children born in this country have some type of cerebral palsy

At least 500 infants and toddlers and 1,200 to 1,500 pre-school children are diagnosed each year

About 500,000 people in this country have some form of cerebral palsy

Children with very mild cerebral palsy occasionally recover by the time they are school aged

It is usually a life long disability

Cerebral Palsy-Risks

Some things that could increase the risk of cerebral palsy are: Mothers 40 years or older Mothers 20 years or younger Fathers 20 years or younger African-American ethnicity A first child or child born fifth or later in the family One pair of twins, especially if one twin dies Low birth weight (less than 3.5 pounds) Premature infant (less than 37 weeks) Rh or A-B-O blood type incompatibility between mother and infant Infection of the mother with German measles or other virus in early

pregnancy Attack by micro-organisms on the central nervous system of the infant

Cerebral Palsy-Types There are three main types of Cerebral Palsy: Spastic,

Athetoid, and Ataxic Spastic (stiff and difficult movement): Most common Affects about 80% of all children with cerebral palsy One or more tight muscle groups that limit movement Hard time moving from one position to another Hard time holding and letting go of objects Caused by damage to the part of the brain that controls

voluntary movements

Cerebral Palsy-continued

Athetoid (involuntary and uncontrolled movement): 10% of children with cerebral palsy have this type Caused by damage to the cerebellum or basal ganglia Damage to these areas may cause a child to develop

involuntary, purposeless movements, especially in the face, arms, and trunk

May lead to swallowing problems, drooling, and slurred speech

Down Syndrome-What is it Down Syndrome is a combination of birth

defects including; some degree of mental retardation, characteristic facial features, heart defects, increased infections, vision and hearing problems, & other health problems. The severity of down syndrome can vary greatly & is the most common birth defect. Only about 1 in 800-1,000 babies will get down syndrome and are only expected to live to be 55 years old.

Down Syndrome-How is it caused Down syndrome occurs when there is an accident while

the egg or sperm cell is forming, causing it to have an extra chromosome. Down syndrome is also called Trisomy 21 because of the three number 21 chromosomes. Another form of down syndrome, Mosaic down syndrome, is when an accident in cell division occurs. Occasionally the extra chromosome 21 is attached to another chromosome in the egg or sperm, which is called translocation. Translocation is the only form of down syndrome that can be inherited from a parent.

Down Syndrome-Diagnosis You can diagnose a child with Down syndrome before

they are born. Prenatal testing using amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling can diagnose or rule out Down syndrome. Ultrasound can also detect many cases of Down syndrome.

Your doctor may suggest amniocentesis if the mother gets an abnormal result on a blood test done around the 16th week of pregnancy. Abnormal blood tests do not conclude a diagnosis of Down syndrome it just means that additional tests should be done.

Down Syndrome-Physical Aspects Some children/adults with down syndrome may have: Eyes that slant upward Small ears that may fold over a little at the top Small mouth, making the tongue appear large Small nose with a flattened nasal bridge Short necks Small hands with short fingers Less muscle tone, may appear “floppy” Often short with loose joints

Down Syndrome-Problems they may have/seriousness ½ of babies with Down Syndrome will have heart defects Some defects are minor and may be treated with medication while

others may require surgery 10% of babies with Down syndrome are born with intestinal

malformations that require surgery More then 50% have some visual or hearing impairment Babies may have hearing loss due to fluid in the middle ear, and

nerve defect, or both Children with Down Syndrome tend to have many colds and ear

infections, as well as bronchitis and pneumonia They are also at increase risk at having thyroid problems and

Leukemia

Down Syndrome-Research Some March of Dimes grantees are

researching why errors in chromosome division occurs, with hopes of someday preventing Down Syndrome. Other March of Dimes research is investigating the role of a gene in causing the brain abnormalities that relate with Down Syndrome.

Down Syndrome-Risks People who have the highest risk of having a baby with

down syndrome are those who: Already had a baby with Down Syndrome Mothers or fathers who have a rearrangement involving

chromosome 21 Mothers over 35 years old As age increase chance of down syndrome also

increases: From 1 in 1,250 (at age 25) to 1 in 1,000 (at age 30) to 1

in 400 (at age 35) to 1 in 100 (at age 40)

Down Syndrome-Prevention/Cure There is no cure or prevention for Down

syndrome, but recent studies show that women who have had a baby with Down syndrome have had an abnormality in how their bodies process the B vitamin folic acid. To reduce the risk of having a child with birth defects of the brain or spinal cord the mother should take a daily multivitamin containing 400 micrograms of folic acid.

Other Developmental Disabilities Some other developmental disabilities are: Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Tourettes syndrome Failure to drive syndrome And many, many more!

Sites we used www.cerebralpalsyfacts.com www.tourettes-disorder.com www.autism-society.org/site/pageserver