A developmental disability characterized by extreme difficulty communicating and relating to other people and surroundings
Cerebral palsy
A developmental disability caused by damage to the cerebrum, the part of the brain involved with motor control
Congenital
Adjective used to describe a disorder that a person is born with
Developmental disability
A permanent disability that affects a person before he or she reaches adulthood (that is, before 19 to 22 years of age) and interferes with the person's ability to achieve developmental milestones
Down syndrome
A developmental disability that is the result of having 47 chromosomes instead of 46; people with this disorder have mental retardation and certain key physical features, such as almond-shaped eyes and square hands with short, stubby fingers
Fetal alcohol syndrome
A combination of physical and mental problems that affect children whose mothers consumed alcohol during pregnancy
Fragile X syndrome
An inherited type of mental retardation caused by a defect in the X chromosome
Hydrocephalus
A condition that results from the build-up of cerebrospinal fluid; sometimes called "water on the brain"
Mental retardation
The state of having below-average intellectual functioning (that is, a decreased ability to reason, think, and understand) and problems with adaptive skills (that is, skills needed to live and work, such as communication skills, social skills, and self-care skills)
Spina bifida
A congenital defect of the spinal column that occurs when the vertebrae do not close properly during development leaving the spinal cord exposed