health

Developmental disabilities are likely to become a serious concern for
caregivers and health care professionals in the years ahead. One reason
is that some developmental disabilities, such as autism and hearing loss,
are becoming more rather than less common. Another reason is that
people with developmental disabilities are living longer, which means
that they will require treatment and support services for many more years
than was the case in the 1960s. The needs of adults over fifty with developmental
disabilities are presently being studied by policy makers as well
as medical researchers.
Another rapidly expanding area of research is finding better
screening instruments to identify children with developmental disabilities
as early as possible. The available evidence indicates that the earlier these
children are diagnosed and treated, the more likely they are to develop
their full potential as they grow older.