Introduction

People with developmental disability can present with a broad range of clinical indicators of abuse and trauma. Differences in presentation can relate to several factors such as:

• the type and duration of abuse
• the age and developmental stage of the person
• the developmental stage(s) when past abuse or trauma occurred
• comorbid developmental, intellectual, psychiatric or physical health problems (eg intellectual disability, genetic conditions, autism spectrum disorder, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder)
• individual and family resilience.

The onset of symptoms could be related to recent abuse or trauma, or reflect ‘triggering’ of past events. Discerning the time course of abuse may be difficult in people with developmental disability.