Abstract

This special issue is among the first volumes to examine the topic of early development in children with neurogenetic disorders associated with intellectual disability. It includes discussions of theoretical issues regarding the emergence of behavioural profiles during early development, as well as comprehensive accounts of early development in specific disorders such as Down syndrome, fragile X syndrome, Williams syndrome, and sex chromosome disorders. In addition, several contributions examine the latest clinical applications of this work for diagnosis, treatment, and education.

• The comprehensive nature of the reviews of early development in neurogenetic disorders provided by top researchers in the field of developmental disabilities research
• Innovation in the application of new approaches to this population, such dynamic systems theory and the developmental trajectory approach to studying these populations place this volume on the cutting edge of theoretical work in this area
• This volume also addresses the implications of emerging behavioural phenotypes in neurogenetic disorders from many angles—the biological issues related to diagnosis, psychiatric issues related to comorbid conditions such as autism and autism spectrum disorder, and educational issues related to targeted intervention

"When and how do phenotypic profiles start during the developmental process, and can they be impacted by the environment and family? US researchers in child psychiatry, developmental disabilities, genomics, and neurodevelopment investigate these questions in this special issue of the International Review of Developmental Disabilities. Contributors describe the latest research on early development in children with neurogenetic disorders that cause intellectual disability and shed light on the relationship between genetic conditions and phenotypic expression, and the link between neurogenetic disorder and behavioral outcomes. Some specific subjects addressed include social-cognitive skills in young children with Williams Syndrome, early diagnosis of chromosomal disorders associated with intellectual disability, and diagnosing autism in those with known genetic syndromes. Fidler teaches human development and family studies at Colorado State University." --Reference and Research Book News, October 2012