Intellectual disability

Intellectual disability, formerly called mental retardation, is characterized by below-average intelligence or mental ability and a lack of skills necessary for daily life. People with intellectual disability can and do acquire new skills, but they acquire them more slowly. There are various degrees of intellectual disability, from mild to profound. The term "mental retardation" is no longer used as it is offensive and has a negative connotation.

What is intellectual disability?

A person with intellectual disability has limitations in two areas. These areas are:

Intelligent operation. Also known as IQ, it refers to a person's ability to learn, reason, make decisions, and solve problems.
Adaptive behavior. These are skills needed in everyday life, such as the ability to communicate effectively, interact with others, and take care of oneself.

IQ (intelligence quotient) is measured by an IQ test. The average IQ is 100, with most people scoring between 85 and 115. A person is considered intellectually disabled if their IQ is below 70 or 75.

To measure a child's adaptive behavior, a specialist observes his skills and compares them with those of other children of the same age. Things that can be observed include the child's ability to eat or dress himself; how the child is able to communicate and understand others; and how the child interacts with family, friends, and other children of the same age.

Intellectual disability affects approximately 1% of the population. Of those affected, 85% have mild intellectual disability. This means that they are slightly slower than average to absorb new information or skills. With the right support, most of them will be able to live independently into adulthood.

What are the signs of intellectual disability in children?

There are many different signs of intellectual disability in children. Signs may appear in infancy or may not be noticeable until the child reaches school age. Often this depends on the degree of disability. Some of the more common signs of intellectual disability are:

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

Children with severe or profound intellectual disability may have other health problems. These problems may include seizures, mood disorders, movement disorders, vision or hearing problems.

What causes intellectual disability?

Whenever something interferes with the normal development of the brain, it can lead to intellectual disability. However, a specific cause of intellectual disability can only be determined in about one-third of cases.

The most common causes of intellectual disability are:

Genetic conditions. These include things like Down Syndrome and Fragile X Syndrome.
Problems during pregnancy. Factors that can interfere with fetal brain development include alcohol or drug use, malnutrition, certain infections, or preeclampsia.
Problems during childbirth. Intellectual disability can occur if the baby is deprived of oxygen during childbirth or is born extremely premature.
Illness or injury. Infections such as meningitis, whooping cough, or measles can lead to intellectual disability. Severe head trauma, near drowning, extreme malnutrition, brain infections, exposure to toxic substances such as lead, and severe neglect or abuse can also cause it.
None of these answers. In two-thirds of all children with intellectual disability, the cause is unknown.

Can intellectual disability be prevented?

Some causes of intellectual disability are preventable. The most common of these is fetal alcohol syndrome. Pregnant women should not drink alcohol. Proper prenatal care, taking prenatal vitamins, and getting vaccinated against some infectious diseases can also reduce the risk of your baby having an intellectual disability.

In families with a history of genetic disorders, genetic testing may be recommended before conception.

Certain tests, such as ultrasound and amniocentesis, may also be done during pregnancy to check for problems associated with intellectual disability. While these tests can detect problems before birth, they cannot correct them.

How is intellectual disability diagnosed?

Intellectual disability can be suspected for various reasons. If a child has physical abnormalities that are indicative of a genetic or metabolic disorder, various tests may be done to confirm the diagnosis. These include blood tests, urine tests, imaging tests to look for structural problems in the brain, or an electroencephalogram to look for signs of seizures.

For developmentally delayed children, the doctor will do tests to rule out other problems, including hearing problems and some neurological disorders. If no other reason for the delay is found, the child will be referred for official testing.

Three elements are taken into account in diagnosing intellectual disability: interviews with parents, observation of the child, and tests of intelligence and adaptive behavior. A child is considered to be intellectually disabled if they have deficits in IQ and adaptive behavior. 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 specific strengths and weaknesses. This helps them determine the level and type of support a child will need to succeed at home, at school and in the community.

What can I do to help my intellectual disability child?

Steps to help your child with intellectual disability include:

Learn all you can about intellectual disability. The more you know, the better you can protect your child.
Encourage your child's independence. Let your child try new things and encourage them to do things on their own. Provide guidance when needed and give positive feedback when your child does something well or learns something new.
Involve your child in group activities. Taking art classes or participating in scouting will help your child learn social skills.
Stay involved. By keeping in touch with your child's teachers, you can keep track of their progress and reinforce what your child is learning at school while practicing at home.
Acquaintance with other parents of intellectually disabled children. They can be a great source of advice and emotional support.