Cognitive Disorders Summary and Categories
Cognitive Disorders are those that delay or otherwise inhibit the development of normal patterns of thought and behaviour as recognized by most people. Cognitive disorders can affect memory, perception, and understanding in a variety of contexts, depending on the type. Some cognitive disorders feature a “developmental delay” or an “intellectual disability,” in which a person’s mental functioning is on a level consistent with someone much younger than the person’s actual age. In other cases, however, the issue is not intellectual functioning, but rather how the person perceives and processes such things as communication—both verbal and non-verbal—and social situations. People with autism spectrum disorders and related pervasive development disorders (PDDs) are examples of the latter situation. A third category of cognitive impairment arises from acquired brain injuries and certain progressive conditions, such as Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s diseases. Disabilities of this type can be either visible or invisible, depending on the severity of symptoms.
- Asperger
- Atypical
