Key Words:
developmental disabilities, children, early intervention
Developmental disabilities consist of conditions that delay or
impair the physical, cognitive, and/or psychological
development of children. If not intervened at the earliest,
these disabilities will cause significant negative impact on
multiple domains of functioning such as learning, language,
self-care and capacity for independent living. Common
developmental disabilities include autism spectrum disorders,
intellectual disabilities, developmental delay and cerebral
palsy [1]. About one fourth of young children in developing
countries are at risk for or have developmental delay or
disabilities [2]. Inadequate stimulation has significant
negative impact on physical, socioemotional and cognitive
development of children [3]. Hence early scientific
intervention programs are necessary in the management of
children at risk for developmental delay.
Prevalence of developmental disabilities
Autism spectrum disorders
Prevalence of autism spectrum disorders among four year old
children was 13.4 per thousand. Prevalence in eight year old
children was 30% higher [4]. The prevalence of autism spectrum
disorder in 2014 was 2.2 percent according to National Health
Interview Survey (United States of America) [5].
Intellectual disabilities
Meta analysis of 52 studies have shown that the prevalence of
intellectual disabilities is 10.37 per 1000 population. Low
and middle income countries had the highest prevalence rates
[6]. Prevalence rate of severe intellectual disability in
children (IQ less than 50) was found to be about 4 per
thousand on evaluating the European intellectual disability
databases [7].
Developmental delay
According to the National Health Interview Survey on
Disability (United States of America), 3.3 percent of infants
and young children had functional delay and 3.4 percent of the
children had general developmental delay [8].
Cerebral palsy
In a systematic review and meta analysis of 49 studies, it was
found that the overall prevalence of cerebral palsy was
2.11 per thousand live births. The prevalence was highest
among children with a birth weight between 1 - 1.5 Kg (59.18
per thousand live births). Prevalence was very high in
children born before 28 weeks of gestation (111.8 per thousand
live births) [9].
Significance of early developmental interventions
The quality of the environment in which the children grow up
will have the most significant impact on child development
[10]. The younger the age at which children are provided
developmental stimulation, the better the cognitive outcome
[11]. Early evidence based interventions for developmental
delay and disabilities improve the life outcomes of children
[12]. Advances in developmental neuroscience have shown how
the early biological and social experiences can affect the
brain development. Inadequate cognitive stimulation is a key
risk factor which can prevent the children from attaining
their developmental potential. Hence early interventions are
essential to promote child development [13].
Socioemotional behavioral problems are increasingly seen in
children with inadequate early stimulation [14]. Behavioral
problems are common among children with developmental
disabilities which can increase the functional difficulties.
Family interventions reduce the behavioral problems
[15]. Psychosocial deprivation has a negative impact on motor
and intellectual development [16]. Children with early
psychosocial deprivation also have deficits in memory and
executive functioning [17]. Family intervention programs
improve the cognitive development of young children [11].
Preventive interventions are essential for primordial
prevention of developmental disabilities. Parenting
interventions are the common preventive intervention programs
in child development. Positive parental styles will lead to
more adaptive child functioning. Parenting programs which
promote positive parent child interactions and communications
are consistently associated with better results. Early
developmental stimulation programs involving the family
members are effective for improving the motor, language,
social and cognitive skills of infants and preschool children.
Conclusion
Children with developmental disabilities experience extensive
health inequalities and face severe discrimination. The state
of early child development should be improved on a global
scale. Childhood experience during the early years have great
influence on the entire life course. Early intervention should
be provided to all children at risk for developmental
disabilities. Strong nurturant environment should be provided
during early child development to prevent developmental
disabilities.
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