Development disabilities can be defined as chronic conditions which develop when the brain of a child is still forming. Developmental disabilities may occur during pregnancy or early childhood or they may occur anytime till a person attains the age of twenty two. They are birth defects which may hamper the proper functioning of a body part or a body system. Most of the developmental disabilities cannot be medically treated, however with therapy their symptoms can definitely be controlled.

Nervous System Disabilities:-

As the name suggests, nervous system disabilities affect the functioning of the nervous system, spinal cord as well as the brain. A child with nervous system disabilities is most likely to suffer from speech disorders, behavioral disorders, movement disorders and may experience convulsions. His learning, understanding and intelligence, might all be affected due to nervous system disabilities.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD):-

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder can be identified in children by their inability to concentrate, being forgetful and feeling hyperactive all the time. There are a number of ADHD causes such as changes or malfunctioning of certain brain structures, parents suffering from hypertension or a psychiatric disturbance, chemical poisoning, alcoholism, smoking or drug abuse by the woman when she is pregnant and lastly, exposure of the child to certain environmental toxins like lead, polychlorinated biphenyls, etc.

Autism:-

Another example of nervous system disabilities is autism. Various behavioral and speech disorders may be caused in a child due to autism. Although exact cause of autism is not known, still some researchers are of the opinion that it may be caused due to certain genetic, environmental and neural development factors. Differences in the brain chemicals, known as neurotransmitters are the main cause behind autism. Environmental factors such as exposure to certain chemicals, exposure to drugs, eating certain kind of foods can exacerbate this condition.

Cerebral Palsy:-

Most cases of cerebral palsy develop even before the child is born. Very rarely does it occur during childbirth, although if the baby is premature or is under weight and suffers from intraventricular hemorrhages, it can lead to development of this condition in him. But mostly this condition develops when the brain development of the unborn child is affected when the mother is alcoholic, smokes, takes drugs, is malnourished, is exposed to certain chemicals or suffers any mental of physical trauma when she is pregnant. Some other reasons for a child to develop cerebral palsy are any injury to the brain due to accident, asphyxia, bacterial infections such as encephalitis or exposure to certain chemicals and allergies.

Bipolar Disorder:-

The reason why this disorder develops in a person is not known, still studies have shown that it is hereditary and runs in families. A person suffering from bipolar disorder experiences four kinds of mood cycles - mania, hypomania, depression and a mixed episode. Typical symptoms range from a person feeling highly energetic to falling into deep depression, leading to development of suicidal thoughts.

Dyslexia:-

Dyslexia is a neurological disorder that makes a child incapable to understand language, differentiate between right and left, solve mathematical problems and lastly, organize and plan anything. This condition is caused when the brain is unable to transfer images it receives from the eyes and ears into comprehensible language.

Dyscalculia:-

This is another disability that is closely associated with dyslexia. In this condition, a child is unable to recognize numbers and thus can't solve mathematical problems. This condition is caused due to an injury to the brain or a deficit in the working memory. Inability to read maps and follow directions are some other consequences of dyscalculia. 

Dysgraphia:-

A child suffering from Dysgraphia is unable to write alphabets or sentences in order. Dysgraphia symptoms develop in a child when his motor development does not take place properly.

Fragile X Syndrome:-

Fragile X syndrome occurs when FMR-1 gene/protein is unable to participate as required for the healthy and normal development of the offspring, resulting in numerous changes in his emotional, mental, physical and behavioral features.

Down Syndrome:-

Down syndrome is a chromosomal disorder caused due to an extra 21st chromosome, resulting in mental retardation as well as malformation in a newly born child.

Metabolic Disorders:-

These birth defects affect the body's metabolism i.e. the processes involved in building up, breaking and assimilating the materials required by the body to function properly. Phenylketonuria and hypothyroidism are examples of a metabolic disorder which can cause intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Phenylketonuria:-

Phenylketonuria, a genetic disorder, occurs when the body is unable to process the phenylalanine (Phe) protein found in almost all kinds of foods. If the Phe level becomes very high, the brain of the child can get damaged and he may even suffer from mental retardation.

Hypothyroidism:-

Another example of metabolic disorders is a hormonal condition known as Hypothyroidism. In this condition, the thyroid gland is unable to produce some very important hormones. If this disorder is not treated in time, it can lead to obesity, infertility, joint pain and even heart disease.

Sensory-related Disabilities:-

Sensory-related disabilities, a major part of the development disabilities list, are those which can cause problems related to sight and hearing. Some examples of sensory related disabilities are Williams syndrome and congenital rubella syndrome.

Congenital Rubella Syndrome:-

Congenital rubella syndrome is caused when the rubella virus negatively affects the fetus, mostly during the first trimester of pregnancy. A child who has congenital rubella might be deaf and may even have cataracts in the eye.

Williams Syndrome:-

Williams syndrome is a condition which occurs when some of the genes might be missing in a newborn child. Some of the symptoms of this rare condition are learning disorders, sensitivity to loud music, attention deficit disorder, sunken chest and feeding problems such as vomiting or reflux.

Degenerative Disorders:-

Degenerative disorders usually develop at an older age and the newborns who suffer from such disorders may show no signs at all. Degenerative disorders are known to cause physical, sensory and mental defects in a person. An example of degenerative disorder is Rett syndrome.

Rett Syndrome:-

Mostly girls suffer from this disorder. In the initial stages, the sufferer displays normal growth patterns but later there will be slowing down of brain growth, inability to use hands properly, problems in walking, slow mental growth and the sufferer may experience seizures.

Developmental Disabilities In Children - What Should You Know?

Epilepsy is a condition that starts in the brain and causes seizures in which the patient loses consciousness and has convulsions. He also jerks his arms and legs along with trembling and frothing from the mouth.
The lesser known fact about epilepsy is that there are many types of epileptic conditions-over 40 - and similarly, there are numerous drugs available to treat your epileptic disorder and prevent seizures. Your doctor will diagnose your type of epileptic disorder and prepare a treatment plan for it.

Types of epileptic seizures
Epileptic seizures are generally categorized as either partial or primary, generalized depending on where they originate in the brain. Partial seizures are less intense and they start in one section rather than the entire brain. If you have this type of seizure, you will be aware of what s happening to you. The other type of seizure affects a larger part of the brain. Here you may have difficulty understanding what's happening to you. Since these spread to the entire brain, you lose consciousness and start convulsing.

Having a seizure can put you at risk for serious injuries including head injuries.
So, if you close to you suffers from epilepsy, it's critical to your health and well being to educate yourself about your condition and have an action plan in place to tackle the seizures which can happen anywhere, and sometimes with no one to assist you or him actively.

Here is what you can do to manage epilepsy-

Educate yourself: You must know as much as possible about your condition. Know your symptoms and learn to recognize the symptoms preceding a seizure. Also, educate your friends and family about epilepsy so that they can support you during a seizure. Educate your family to do the right things when you have a seizure.
Make a seizure response plan: This plan should list the names and numbers of your doctors and two emergency contacts.
Other things you can do as an epileptic:
Antiepileptic drugs are quite successful in preventing seizures but they should be taken as prescribed. Don t change your dosage before talking to your doctor.
Sleep properly as lack of sleep can trigger seizures.
Exercising regularly can help keep you physically healthy and reduce depression and also help in managing seizures.
Manage your stress levels, limit alcohol and cigarettes.
On the other hand, if your family member or friend has epilepsy, this is what you can do:

Roll the person onto one side during a seizure.
Place something soft under the person s head.
Loosen tie and top buttons.
Don t put an object in an epileptic s mouth. It can hurt his/her teeth.
Don't try to restrain him during a seizure.
Clear away stones and other dangerous objects if the patient is thrashing around.
Time the seizures and be calm during them.
Don t leave the patient alone.

Epileptic Conditions - How To Deal With Them?

Do you know you can suffer from a torn bicep accidentally? A bicep is a muscle which begins from your upper arm and is attached to the shoulder via bones and to the elbows by tendons. If you do heavy lifting in the gym or somehow put excessive pressure on that area, chances are you may suffer from torn biceps.

There are two kinds of bicep tears you may encounter:

Complete Tears where the tendons are split into two parts resulting in tremendous pain.
Partial Tears result when the biceps are hurt but the tendon is not completely severed.
Among the various types of torn biceps, the muscle that is attached to the shoulder experiences the maximum number of bicep ruptures. Suddenly, the bicep tendons get detached from the bone resulting in pain and numbness. You will find a number of sportspersons suffering from this kind of torn biceps.

But why do your biceps get torn?

One of the reasons why you suffer torn biceps is a prolonged period of ignorance. If you have been putting continuous pressure on your shoulder, the biceps muscle can weaken over time. Overuse of the muscles can give rise to conditions of tendinitis (inflammation of the bone to muscle connecting tissue) and injuries in rotator cuff which, in future, might result in torn biceps.
A sudden injury like falling over your arms or hurting your shoulder can result in torn biceps.
Aging is another reason why you can have this complication. Added to this are unusually heavy tasks and overuse of shoulder which can result in this problem.
Some steroids such as Corticosteroids are directly related to the weakening of muscles and tendons.
When you suffer from torn biceps, you encounter symptoms such as:

Weakening of the elbow and the shoulder. You will find it troublesome to move your hand.
Swelling of the elbow with bruises visible on the elbow and the forearm.
You find trouble in twisting your forearm
You will experience spasms in the muscles.
You can also hear a snapping sound of the muscles.
What should you do if you face this problem?

Continuous applications of ice packs are a must. Repeat the activity 4 times a day with a duration of 20 minutes. You may need to do it for 2 or 3 days.
Avoid activities which put pressure on your hands and shoulders.
Consult a doctor immediately and get some painkillers as recommended.
If you have complete tears, you may need to undergo surgery. Talk to your doctor regarding that.

How to Treat Torn Biceps - Types, Causes, Symptoms

The chronic disorder that causes recurrent and unprovoked seizures is referred to as Epilepsy. A seizure is an impulsive and unexpected rush of activity in the brain. The reasons for the cause of epilepsy include head trauma, high fever, low blood sugar, and alcohol withdrawal. It is a neurological disorder and more than 3 million people in the United States have been affected by epilepsy. The chronic disorder is common not only in adults but even in young children and it has been observed that it occurs more in males. The disorder can merely be controlled by the use of various strategies as there is no cure for it till date.

Causes of epilepsy
Any illness that disturbs the usual form of neuron activity can lead to seizures. There are many possible causes of epilepsy. The 2 main types of seizures include partial/focal seizure and generalized seizure. The partial seizure would affect only one part of the brain. It is difficult to identify mild seizures. Further, stronger seizures are known to cause uncontrollable muscle twitches and spasms. At the time of a strong seizure, a patient can lose his consciousness. On the other hand, generalized seizures affect both parts (cerebral hemispheres) of the brain so their onset is not easily identifiable. Types of generalized seizures include tonic-clonic, absence or atonic etc. The other important fact is that epilepsy progresses because of imbalance of neurotransmitters which are nerve-signaling chemicals and also due to an abnormality in the brain wiring.

Drugs used to treat epileptic seizures
Anticonvulsant drugs are mainly used to treat epileptic seizures. The type of treatment provided to patients mainly depends on factors like severity and frequency of the seizures. The other factors that are also taken into consideration for the type of treatment provided include medical history, overall health and the age of a person. A patient can feel better with a seizure medication, an implant that works on the nerves, a special diet, and surgery.
To control epileptic seizures medications are the best option and to treat the brain disorder the right medication needs to be used. There are nearly 20 drugs available that are used for treating different types of epileptic seizures. The doctors provide medication only after proper review of the patient s medical history and their lifestyle. Some of the medications that are made include the use of antiepileptic drugs and anti-seizure drugs. The faulty signaling of the brain is suppressed with these medications.

Important precautions you must take

It is very important that the medication is taken as directed by the doctor. The main reason behind the use of these drugs is that they reduce the number of seizures and there are no side-effects. 
Care should be taken that the drugs provided to the children to treat epilepsy are FDA approved and are safe for use by children. 
The epilepsy drugs that can be taken for partial seizures include carbamazepine, phenytoin, valproic acid, valproate, and brivaracetam.
Natural treatments can also be made use of for epilepsy as at times medications do not work well on some patients. Acupuncture, use of natural herbs and vitamins can also be used for treating the brain disorder.

Epilepsy - Things You Must Take Care Of!

Unlike muscle aches, neuropathic pain or nerve pain is usually a lifelong condition. This usually affects the feet. In some cases, it can get better over the years but in most cases, nerve pain stays persistent or worsens with time. Neuropathic pain is caused by nerve damage and commonly triggered by conditions such as diabetes or is a result of the side effects of medication or chemotherapy.

Medication is usually the first line of treatment when it comes to dealing with neuropathic pain. Medication prescribed for such conditions can be categorized as:

Antidepressants
Anticonvulsants
Local anesthetics
These may be prescribed individually or in a combination of two or more types of drugs. additionally, topical creams may also be prescribed for pain relief. Conventional medicine can provide temporary relief from nerve pain. However, in the long run, making a few lifestyle changes can help control nerve pain. Here are a few tips.

Exercise: Nerve pain may tempt you to sit in one place, but you must force yourself to walk about and exercise a little on a regular basis. Exercising increases blood flow to the extremities of the body and releases endorphins that act as natural painkillers. It can also expand blood vessels and nourish damaged nerves.
Avoid alcohol: If you suffer from nerve damage, alcohol can aggravate the damage and increase pain. Hence it is best to skip alcohol and all other kinds of stimulants.
Heat therapy: Soaking your feet in a warm bath or using a heat pack can be very effective when it comes to dealing with nerve pain. The heat temporarily increase blood flow and reduces pressure on the nerves. However, be careful to avoid burning yourself.
Get a good night's sleep: Nerve pain is usually aggravated at night, thus disturbing your sleep. To get the required 8 hours of sleep a day, try maintaining a schedule of going to bed and waking up at the same time everyday. Drinking a cup of warm milk may also help you fall asleep faster. Ensure that the last cup of coffee you drink is in the afternoon.
Massage: As with muscle pains; a massage can help ease and reduce nerve pain. Your choice of oils also has a role to play in the effectiveness of the massage. While lavender oil helps people relax and takes their mind of the pain, geranium oil can help directly reduce nerve pain.

Ways to Control Nerve Pain

Weakness of the muscles due to a genetically inherited condition is known as muscular dystrophy. This condition prevents the body from producing the required protein that can help in building muscles. This protein is also responsible for making the muscles strong and stable. This is most commonly seen in children who may seem clumsy as they begin to grow up and indulge in varied kinds of movements. Let us learn more about this condition and the ways in which it may be treated.

1. Symptoms: In order to better understand the ways of treating this condition, it is important to take stock of the varied signs and symptoms that are associated with the same. The main symptom of this condition includes difficulty in walking as well as constant slips and falls that may be endured by the child. Also, the children suffering from this condition will have trouble in lifting the leg and foot in a normal way.

2. Other Complications: This condition can also affect the heart and lungs by making the muscles in these regions weak. Also, this condition can lead to a number of serious breathing problems that will need immediate medical intervention so that it does not become fatal. It may also lead to accelerated heart beats and affect the hands and feet of the patient in an adverse manner. This condition can be found in different types, each of which will affect the patient in a different manner.

3. Physical and Occupational Therapy: One of the most effective ways of dealing with condition in the long run is to indulge in physical and occupational therapy. With the help of a physiotherapist and other specialists, the patient will be taught to move in a more deliberate and normal manner without falling too often. Also, the patient will be eventually trained to go about life and various functions with certain kinds of movements that will be limited to the issues that the patient may be facing. Bracing will also be required so as to help the child cope better in the physical sense.

4. Prednisone: This medicine may be prescribed by the Pediatrician to ensure that the progression of the heart issues may be slowed down. This will ensure that the heart may function in a more normal manner despite the muscle issues that it may be facing. The doctor will usually recommend that the medicine should be started when the child is around five or six years old.

5. Spinal Fusion: This surgery can lessen the pain and reduce the severity of the symptoms, which can lead to better chances of moving in a normal manner. This will also give the child better posture so that the child may breathe normally.

How Can Muscular Dystrophy Be Treated in Children?

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