Is developmentally disabled the same as mentally disabled?

Question

I feel a little silly asking this but i was reading in the newspaper about a guy who died. They said he was developmentaly disabled after being attacked and beaten severly when he was younger. Does this mean he was now mentally challenged or now a little slow?

Answer 1

First of all, the newspaper article was wrong in its use of "developmentally disabled" to explain his condition.

Developmental issues come from genetics or birth (or "mystery" -- he/she was "just born that way" and they don't know why).

The proper term should have been TBI (traumatic brain injured) for his condition. The problems look the same as developmental disabilities, but the WAY they are helped can be very different.

The terms "Developmental disability" and "Mental Retardation/Disability" are usually interchangable, although one can end up MR due to an environmental cause (injury, lead or other poisoning, etc.) ... and therefore it wouldn't be "developmental."

However, "Developmental Delay" is NOT the same as "Developmental Disability/Mental Retardation". One can have a DELAY, and yet eventually build to "average" expectations.

That is why the "DD" or "Developmentally Delayed" category in United States Special Education is only usable until age 9. And yes, many of the kids that fit under "DD" when they are little "grow out of it" by then.

Developmental Delay can affect one or more areas (mental, physical, social, communication). My son was considered physically and socially DD, but has normal smarts and communicates well. He still struggles with weak muscles and lack of coordination (hypotonia, sensory integration dysfunction, and other neurological issues), and at age 12 has the social skills of someone aged 7 or 8.

The newspaper article probably was trying to be "tactful," and thereby ended up being confusing instead. It should have said that he had experienced severe disabilities after the beating, and left it at that.

Answer 2

developmentaly disabled = mentally challenged = a little slow

Someone being beaten has caused a certain amount of brain damage which has caused the person to have problems in learning and reasoning.

Since this person can no longer learn or reason or develop at the same speed as others without brain damage, they are considered developmentaly disabled.

Answer 3

Developmentally disabled means not able to do what they should be at their current age. It can be physical and/or mental. Mentally disabled is more specifically mentally slow or sometimes mentally . The guy in the story was probably mentally disabled (slow) and possibly also physically disabled because of head injuries.

Just when you think you know the right term, it changes on you. My DD is physically disabled and she laughs when people use ridiculous terms--"differently abled" is bad, but "handi-capable" is just too awful!

Answer 4

It's the same thing If you can,t learn then you mentally disabled or developmentally disabled witch is the same thing. But of curse there will be someone in here that will say different But i can tell you from experience i am mentally challenged my self and the Dr. told me it was the same thing just a different way of putting it..

Answer 5

Developmentally disabled means that they have a physical handicap but are mentally okay can have proper thought processes and are aware of things going on in their environment, mentally disabled means they have some type of brain disorder or disease and can not think properly like you or I. A lot of times they do not know what is going on in their environment 100% of the time, depending on the severity of the handicap.

Answer 6

From that I would believe that developmentally disable means something outside genetics caused his disability. Of course it could also mean that his development stopped at that point. When I hear mentally challenged I think more of learning disabilities like Dyslexia or ADHD.

Answer 7

my son has been labeled both developmentally and mentally disabled in the same sentence. I would say there is a difference by personal experience.

Answer 8

Developmentally disabled = overall global development delay. i.e. delay in social, emotional, physical, intelectual development.
Mentally disabled = mentally unable to cope, brain damage, etc.

Answer 9

no dd is not the same as md use the internet and find out


if hes dead he's not mentally challenged or now a little slow hes dead

Answer 10

RETARDED