Current Issues in Developmental Disorders

Cognitive development in children is a highly complex process which, while remarkably resilient, can be disrupted in a variety of ways. This volume focuses on two types of neurodevelopmental disorder: syndromic conditions such as fragile X syndrome, Down syndrome, Williams syndrome and velocardiofacial syndrome; and non-syndromic conditions including dyslexia, specific language impairment, autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

This book provides a state-of-the-art review of current research and covers key topics across the full range of developmental disorders. Topics covered include:

• diagnosis and comorbidity
• genetics
• longitudinal studies
• computational models
• distinguishing disorder from disadvantage
• language and culture
• the modern beginnings of research into developmental disorders

The book also looks at how the study of developmental disorders has contributed to our understanding of typical development, and themes emerge that are common across chapters, including intervention and education, and the neurobiological bases of developmental disorders. The result is a fascinating and thought-provoking volume that will be indispensable to advanced students, researchers and practitioners in the fields of developmental psychology, neuropsychology, speech and language therapy, and developmental disorders.

Chloe R. Marshall, PhD, is Senior Lecturer in Psychology and Human Development at the Institute of Education, University of London, and a former Montessori nursery teacher and teacher-trainer. Her research investigates typical and atypical language acquisition in hearing and deaf children, with a focus on specific language impairment and dyslexia.