A developmental disorder is defined as what?

A developmental disorder is defined as what?

• A. Evidence of a deficit where there was no prior indication that the skill(s) were ever learned or developed
• B. A deficit that emerges after injury in adulthood
• C. A deficit due to aging
• D. A deficit caused by environmental deprivation

Answer: (A)

Developmental disorders are conditions that appear during the developmental period, with skills or domains failing to emerge as they normally should in childhood. The best description is a deficit in a skill that would normally be learned or developed, but was never learned or developed. This distinguishes them from deficits that arise after adult injury (acquired), from aging-related decline, or from deficits caused by environmental deprivation, which involve different timing or causes rather than an early, intrinsic developmental failure.

Developmental disorders are conditions that appear during the developmental period, with skills or domains failing to emerge as they normally should in childhood. The best description is a deficit in a skill that would normally be learned or developed, but was never learned or developed. This distinguishes them from deficits that arise after adult injury (acquired), from aging-related decline, or from deficits caused by environmental deprivation, which involve different timing or causes rather than an early, intrinsic developmental failure.