Mental and developmental disorders are becoming more common in children these days. Due to these disorders, children start behaving differently and perhaps erratically, which should be the first sign forparents.

Healthcare professionals use DSM-5 guidelines to diagnose the symptoms of these mental and developmental disorders in children.

These developmental disorders can affect children’s physical, emotional, intellectual, and mental health. Some of these conditions also impact certain body parts.

Read on to learn more about the different types of these disorders in children:

Types of Mental and Developmental Disorders

Some of the common types of developmental disorders in children are the following;

• ADHD
• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Cerebral Palsy
• OCD
• Tourette Syndrome
• Oppositional Defiant Disorder

ADHD

Attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) is common among teenagers andyounger children. ADHD causes kids to be overly activewhile having a reduced attention span. It also leads to impulsive or uncontrollable actions. Kids with ADHD have difficulty sitting still, paying attention, and seem overall restless.

Symptoms

Although there are no set traits and characteristics shown in children with ADHD, some common symptoms are the following:

• Forgetfulness
• Lack of control over emotions
• Fidgeting
• Hyperactivity
• Easily distracted
• Impatience
• Not being able to keep track of things
• Unable to get social cues

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism is a developmental disorder in children that can occur due to genetics or multiple other reasons. One of the main challenges for kids with autism is communication and navigating social life. Autism begins early in life and remains throughout. It has no cure; however, it can be managed.

Medical professionals believe that the risk factors for ASD increase due to genetic conditions, family history with ASD, premature birth, or parents over the age of 40.

Symptoms

The symptoms of ASD vary from person to person. Some common symptoms among kids with ASD are:

• Sensitivity to stimuli
• Sticking to same routines
• Difficulty reading nonverbal cues, sarcasm, or metaphors
• Excellence in subjects like math or art
• Trouble during communication
• Unusual gestures and facial expressions

Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is a developmental disorder that can impact children’s posture and movement. It shows up in the first few years after birth. Cerebral palsy tends to get worse with time.

There are the following types of cerebral palsy:

• Spastic (affects muscles)
• Ataxic (affects movement)
• Athetoid (affects coordination and balance)

Symptoms

For babies below six months, some common symptoms are stiff muscles, the head falling when picking up the baby, and stiff legs. For babies over 6 months, the symptoms are:

• Trouble with coordination
• Inability to reach things with both hands
• Scooting instead of crawling
• Inability to roll over
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