Apr 10, 20214 min read

Intellectual Disability

Intellectual disability (or ID) is a term used when a person has certain limitations in two areas. These areas are:-

Intellectual functioning. Also known as IQ, this refers to a person’s ability to learn, reason, make decisions, and solve problems.
Adaptive behaviors. These are skills necessary for day-to-day life, such as being able to communicate effectively, interact with others, and take care of oneself.

Intellectual disability can happen any time before a child turns 18 years old, even before birth.
There are varying degrees of intellectual disabilities, from mild to profound. It affects about one percent of the population, and about 85 percent have a mild intellectual disability.
Males are more likely than females to be diagnosed with intellectual disability.
Earlier, the term Intellectual disability was used as “mental retardation”. But now this term is no longer in use, as it’s offensive and has a negative tone.

Signs and Symptoms of Intellectual Disability

Rolling over, sitting up, crawling, or walking late
Talking late or having trouble with talking
Slow to master things like potty training, dressing, and feeding themselves
Difficulty remembering things
Inability to connect actions with consequences
Behavior problems such as explosive tantrums
Difficulty with problem-solving or logical thinking
Childish behavior inconsistent with the child’s age
Lack of curiosity
Learning difficulties
IQ below 70
Inability to lead a fully independent life due to challenges communicating, taking care of themselves, or interacting with others

Levels of intellectual disability

ID is divided into four levels:-

Mild
Moderate
Severe
Profound

Mild intellectual disability

Some of the symptoms of mild intellectual disability include:

taking longer to learn to talk, but communicating well once they know-how
being fully independent in self-care when they get older
having problems with reading and writing
social immaturity
increased difficulty with the responsibilities of marriage or parenting
benefiting from specialized education plans
having an IQ range of 50 to 69

Moderate intellectual disability

Some of the symptoms of moderate intellectual disability include:

slow in understanding and using language
may have some difficulties with communication
can learn basic reading, writing, and counting skills
are generally unable to live alone
can often get around on their own to familiar places
can take part in various types of social activities
generally having an IQ range of 35 to 49

Severe intellectual disability

Symptoms of severe ID include:

noticeable motor impairment
severe damage to, or abnormal development of, their central nervous system
generally having an IQ range of 20 to 34

Profound intellectual disability

Symptoms of profound ID include:

inability to understand or comply with requests or instructions
possible immobility
incontinence
very basic nonverbal communication
inability to care for their own needs independently
the need for constant help and supervision
having an IQ of less than 20

Causes of Intellectual Disability

The most common causes of intellectual disability are:

Genetic conditions. These include things like Down syndrome and fragile X syndrome.
Problems during pregnancy. Things that can interfere with fetal brain development include alcohol or drug use, malnutrition, certain infections, or preeclampsia.
Problems during childbirth. Intellectual disability may result if a baby is deprived of oxygen during childbirth or born extremely premature.
Illness or injury. Infections like meningitis, whooping cough, or measles can lead to intellectual disability. Severe head injury, near-drowning, extreme malnutrition, infections in the brain, exposure to toxic substances such as lead, and severe neglect or abuse can also cause it.
Unknown causes. In two-thirds of all children who have intellectual disabilities, the cause is unknown.

Diagnosis

Three things factor into the diagnosis of intellectual disability:

interviews with the parents
observation of the child
testing of intelligence and adaptive behaviors.

A child is considered intellectually disabled if they have deficits in both IQ and adaptive behaviors. If only one or the other is present, the child is not considered intellectually disabled.

After a diagnosis of intellectual disability is made, a team of professionals will assess the child’s particular strengths and weaknesses. This helps them determine how much and what kind of support the child will need to succeed at home, in school, and the community.

Treatment and Services Provided

Intellectual disability is a lifelong condition. Although there is currently no cure, most people can learn to improve their functioning over time. Receiving early, ongoing interventions can often improve functioning, thereby allowing someone to thrive.

Most treatment plans for intellectual disability focus on the people:

strengths
needs
support needed to function
additional conditions

Many services exist to help people with intellectual disabilities and their families get the support they need. These services include:

For babies and toddlers, early intervention programs are available. A team of professionals works with parents to write an Individualized Family Service Plan or IFSP.
Early intervention may include speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, family counseling, training with special assistive devices, or nutrition services.
School-age children with intellectual disabilities (including pre-schoolers) are eligible for special education for free through the public school system. This is mandated by the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
Parents and educators work together to create an Individualized Education Program, or IEP, which outlines the child’s needs and the services the child will receive at school.

Tips for parents or caregivers who think that their child may have an intellectual disability:

Learn everything you can about intellectual disabilities. The more you know, the better advocate you can be for your child.
Encourage your child’s independence. Let your child try new things and encourage your child to do things by themselves. Provide guidance when it’s needed and give positive feedback when your child does something well or masters something new.
Get your child involved in group activities. Taking an art class or participating in Scouts will help your child build social skills.
Stay involved. By keeping in touch with your child’s teachers, you’ll be able to follow their progress and reinforce what your child is learning at school through practice at home.
Get to know other parents of intellectually disabled children. They can be a great source of advice and emotional support.

- Samishtha Khurana

References:

Intellectual Disability

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