Intellectual Disability and Autism

Developmental disability is a term used for any of several different conditions due to a physical or mental impairment. Developmental disabilities can cause difficulties in various areas of functioning such as activities of daily living (e.g., personal hygiene) or social interactions. For 2006 to 2008, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that one in six children has one or more developmental disabilities or other developmental delays. CDC also reported in a study conducted focusing on children with developmental disabilities during the period 1997 to 2008 that the prevalence of the diagnosis has increased from 12.84% to 15.04%, about 1.8 million more children diagnosed with the disorder than a decade ago.

This entry focuses on two types of developmental disabilities: intellectual disability (ID) and ...