Child psychiatry and early intervention: III. The developmental disorders.

This paper is the third in a series of four using the concepts introduced in the paper Child Psychiatry and Early Intervention: I. The Aggregate Burden of Suffering. This paper reviews the developmental disorders of childhood to set priorities for early intervention programs. This review discusses the prevalence, course, risk, early indicators, associated impairments, and responses to intervention. The specific developmental disorders, especially learning disabilities, have a significant impact on community resources. Since the developmental disorders are easily recognized among preschool children, early intervention is feasible. However, successful interventions have yet to be demonstrated. Priority should be given to the development of effective interventions. There is a great need for research studies on the effects and effectiveness of early intervention with these individuals.