Developmental disabilities and metabolic disorders

Neurodevelopmental disabilities are a group of disorders that result from injury to the developing nervous system causing functional impairment. Multiple diagnoses are the rule because brain dysfunctions in childhood are the results of etiologies that have wide-ranging effects. The functional limitations may result directly from a primary injury, from secondary effects related to that injury, or from arrested brain development. While the functional limitations have been the historical focus of these disorders, new advances in genetics and neuroscience offer the potential for amelioration, cure, or both.