Which statement best describes an acquired disorder?

• A. It is a deficit that occurs after a period of normal development due to neurological injury or disease
• B. It is a deficit present since birth
• C. It is caused by genetics
• D. It resolves without treatment

Answer: (A)

An acquired disorder is one that shows up after a period of normal development, arising from a neurological injury or disease. This means the person develops typical skills for a while, then a new deficit emerges due to events like a stroke, traumatic brain injury, infection, tumor, or a neurodegenerative process. In contrast, a deficit present since birth is developmental, and conditions described as caused by genetics are inherited and often present early in life. The idea that it resolves without treatment isn’t a defining feature of an acquired disorder, since outcomes can vary and some deficits persist despite intervention. So the best description is that the deficit appears after a period of normal development and results from brain injury or disease.