Children and adults with developmental disabilities must cope with lives characterized by limited personal freedom. Adults often are asked to accept living situations that few of us would find very satisfying:

• sharing their living environment with people they may not like
• performing activities they may not enjoy
• eating food they may not savor
• going places to which they may not want to go
• participating in social activities in which they may not want to participate

The pressures of these requirements may be compounded by internal deficits in communication, impulse control, and executive functioning.

Adapted from: Sudhalter V. Problem behaviors in individuals with developmental disabilities. In: Devinsky O and Westbrook LE, eds. Epilepsy and Developmental Disabilities. Boston: Butterworth-Heinemann; 2001;165–174.
With permission from Elsevier (www.elsevier.com).
Reviewed and revised May 2004 by Steven C. Schachter, MD, epilepsy.com Editorial Board.