Developmental Disorder - Emergence of Developmental Disorders

Emergence of Developmental Disorders

Developmental disorders, specifically psychological disorders, generally emerge during the adolescent years. For anxiety disorders, the average age of showing an anxiety disorder is 11 years. Depression has a median age of 30, but early signs have been found in younger children, especially young girls. This leads to a greater finding of depression in females when they are adults. Schizophrenia is also typically diagnosed during late teens, early adulthood. Some disorders that have been diagnosed in childhood tend to decrease in severity moving into adulthood, disorders such as Tourette’s syndrome for instance. Only about 10% of children with seizures continue to have those seizures when they reach maturity. Mental retardation is usually diagnosed before the age of 18 when individuals are tested to find out if their intelligence is below average in their age group. Learning disabilities are diagnosed when the children are young and just beginning school. Most learning disabilities are found under the age of 9.

Young children with communication disorders may not speak at all, or may have a limited vocabulary for their age. Some children with communication disorders have difficulty understanding simple directions or are unable to name objects. Most children with communication disorders are able to speak by the time they enter school, however, they continue to have problems with communication. School-aged children often have problems understanding and formulating words. Teens may have more difficulty with understanding or expressing abstract ideas. Conduct disorder is usually diagnosed between the ages of 10 and 14. Repeated use of alcohol and illegal drug use are red flags for conduct disorder. Oppositional Defiant Disorder, before puberty, is more common in boys; however, after puberty, it is equally common in boys and girls. Roughly half the children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have oppositional defiant disorder (ODD).