All issues > Volume 47(2); 2004

Medical Lecture Course

Korean J Pediatr. 2004;47(2):131-139. Published online February 15, 2004.

Developmental Disabilities in Children

Hee Jung HJ Chung¹

¹Developmental Delay Clinic, Department of Pediatrics, NHIC Ilsan Hospital, Koyang, Korea

Correspondence Hee Jung HJ Chung ,Email: agathac@nhimc.or.kr

Abstract

Despite the 5-10% prevalence of developmental disability, the early identification for such problems remains difficult. Pediatricians tried to diagnose developmental delay early to promote early intervention and thus to reduce long-term disability in these patients. Identification of a delayed young child by routine pediatric screening mandates a careful search for an underlying etiology. Accurate etiologic determination, despite the fact that many disorders have no specific therapeutic interventions, has specific implications regarding treatment, prognosis, ongoing medical management of associated conditions, assessment of recurrence risk, counseling of families if there is a risk of recurrence, and implication of prevention programs. In this article, we shall review the available approaches for identification of developmental delay in infants and young children. In addition, we shall review the algorithm for the etiologic evaluation of the child with developmental disability.

Keywords :Developmental disability, Approach and identification, Evaluation algorithm