Cognitive Deficits (cont.)

Medical Author:

Georgina Peacock, MD

Medical Editor:

Elizabeth A Finley-Belgrad, MD

Medical Editor:

Mary L Windle, PharmD

Medical Editor:

Cynthia R Ellis, MDr

Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Cognitive Deficits Symptoms

• Early in childhood, a parent or other caregiver might notice that a child has a global developmental delay (delays in all areas of development, including language, walking, self-care skills, and/or imitative play). Children with more severe impairments or those with obvious dysmorphic features are often identified in the first year of life.

• Some parents may only notice a delay in their child after a younger sibling catches up developmentally to the child with the developmental delay.

• In other instances, the child might first demonstrate behavioral issues (such as difficulty toilet training), that may ultimately come to the attention of a medical professional and be found to be related to delays in development.

• With less significant impairments, the first sign of a cognitive deficit might be difficulties in school. For example, the child might have trouble learning to read and do math.