Does child abuse cause Developmental Disabilites

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Environmental factors that a child experiences after birth can cause developmental delays and developmental abnormalities even if said child would have been normally developing under different circumstances. Just thinking of feral children here and injuries and unfortunate but surprisingly common incidents that are often bordering on neglect that also cause noticeable developmental delays in various areas.

Too much anxiety can cause impairments which permanent in nature as can cause lasting damage to the brain. This (anxiety) can be bought on by a disorder but also can be bought on by child abuse.

To add: of course, an actual PDD is to be differentiated from autistic-like behaviour that can be caused by abuse.

The ICD-10 diagnoses of reactive attachment disorder of childhood and disinhibited attachment disorder of childhood describe patterns of behaviour that can be similar to that of Asperger's.

Also, in the same section in which there's PTSD there's what was formerly considered hospitalism in children:

[quote]F43.2 Adjustment disorders
States of subjective distress and emotional disturbance, usually interfering with social functioning and performance, arising in the period of adaptation to a significant life change or a stressful life event. The stressor may have affected the integrity of an individual's social network (bereavement, separation experiences) or the wider system of social supports and values (migration, refugee status), or represented a major developmental transition or crisis (going to school, becoming a parent, failure to attain a cherished personal goal, retirement). Individual predisposition or vulnerability plays an important role in the risk of occurrence and the shaping of the manifestations of adjustment disorders, but it is nevertheless assumed that the condition would not have arisen without the stressor. The manifestations vary and include depressed mood, anxiety or worry (or mixture of these), a feeling of inability to cope, plan ahead, or continue in the present situation, as well as some degree of disability in the performance of daily routine. Conduct disorders may be an associated feature, particularly in adolescents. The predominant feature may be a brief or prolonged depressive reaction, or a disturbance of other emotions and conduct.

Thats what I have been hospitalised for and PTSD and PD.

Child abuse can even go unnoticed by both parents of the child they are mentally damaging...

Example: My mother would have sexual relations with other men while being married and living with my dad, and my dad would keep trying to patch things up while she just drained him of his resources... I of course heard everything because of my hypersensitive hearing. My mom was so abusive to him one day that he had to ask me to make her leave the house. She is the most manipulative people I know, and is very good at it. I have even stronger manipulation skills than she does, I just choose to not use them because I don't want to be anything like her. That which she did indirectly caused mental abuse to her children, who she stilll sees as an investment that will help her to retire. Well, I've got news for her then, I refuse to lend her money for anything, and I would give her very limited assistance, but I will gladly drain her of her funds.

My dad, after divorcing her, met the perfect woman for him, and remarried, and now his current wife is the best thing that ever happened to my family. Because of her, I am much closer to being integrated into society fully. I can do things that wouldn't have otherwise been possible, such as attend university. She also forced a diagnosis onto me because she knew I wasn't normal, and because of that I am learning more about who I am and how to improve myself. Without her, I would not be capable of most of what I do. I am glad my dad got it right the second time around.

I experienced severe abuse but in regards to neglect I only felt neglected emotionally. My mom always keep the place clean. She always cooked a healthy dinner every day. I was never with out clothes. I was never cold but I still believe that possibly, as psychologist and psychiatrists always seem to state, that alot of my problems in regards to anxiety, disassocaiting and possibly developmental disability is caused by my upbringing.
"I have been through alot of trauma" they say.

There is a gene short-named MAO-A. People born with a specific variation, whom have been victims of abuse, are more likely to become abusers themselves instead of shrugging it off. I think this is before factoring in such things as culture, poverty, etc.