Sexuality in Children and Adolescents With Developmental Disorders

Children and adolescents with developmental disorders, like all children, are considered sexual individuals and undergo a process of psychosexual development. Sexual development is complex and multifaceted and typically includes the basic human needs of being desired and cared for, displaying and receiving love, feeling valued and attractive, and sharing feelings and desires. Because of the medical and functional difficulties commonly associated with developmental conditions, caregivers and medical professionals may overlook sexual development in this population. This entry reviews some of the unique issues related to sexuality and sexual development in children and adolescents with developmental conditions.

Early Social and Sexual Experiences

The early social experiences of children and adolescents are essential to psychosexual development. However, for children with developmental conditions, these early social experiences may be ...

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