Intellectual Development Disorder

 Intellectual Development Disorder

Overview

What is intellectual disability?

Intellectual disability is a term used when there are limits to a person’s ability to learn at an expected level and function in daily life. Levels of intellectual disability vary greatly in children. Children with intellectual disability might have a hard time letting others know their wants and needs, and taking care of themselves. Intellectual disability could cause a child to learn and develop more slowly than other children of the same age. It could take longer for a child with intellectual disability to learn to speak, walk, dress, or eat without help, and they could have trouble learning in school.

Intellectual disability can be caused by a problem that starts any time before a child turns 18 years old – even before birth. It can be caused by injury, disease, or a problem in the brain. For many children, the cause of their intellectual disability is not known. Some of the most common known causes of intellectual disability – like Down syndrome, fetal alcohol syndrome, fragile X syndrome, genetic conditions, birth defects, and infections – happen before birth. Others happen while a baby is being born or soon after birth. Still other causes of intellectual disability do not occur until a child is older; these might include serious head injury, stroke, or certain infections.

Symptoms

People with more severe forms of intellectual disability usually experience more severe symptoms that are noticeable at a young age.

There are a variety of signs and symptoms that a person with intellectual disability might experience. Generally, people with this condition tend to take longer to learn and develop intellectually than other people.

They also tend to have difficulty with adaptive behaviors. Adaptive behaviors are the conceptual, social, and practical skills that people learn and use in everyday life to function.

Some common symptoms Trusted Source of intellectual disability include:

reaching developmental milestones — such as sitting up, crawling, walking, or talking — later than other children

difficulty speaking or reading

difficulty understanding or following social rules or cues

difficulty understanding the results or consequences of their actions

difficulty solving problems, thinking logically, or thinking abstractly

difficulty planning or following schedules or routines

difficulty remembering things

difficulty letting others know their needs

difficulty understanding systems such as the need to pay for things, time, or how to use a phone

difficulty with social skills

a reduced ability to perform regular personal care, such as eating, getting dressed, or completing household tasks

limited functioning in one or more daily activities

reduced judgment and decision making skills

difficulty learning from experience

communicating using nonverbal means, such as expressions and gestures

difficulty regulating emotions and behaviors

Causes

In many cases, the precise cause of intellectual disability is unknown. Typically, however, the condition develops due to injury, disease, or certain brain conditions.

Any condition that impacts the brain and begins before the age of 18 years, even before birth, can cause intellectual disability. However, intellectual disability can also develop later in childhood or adolescence due to conditions that cause brain damage.

Some common causes of intellectual disability include:

certain genetic conditions, such as Down syndrome, phenylketonuria, or fragile X syndrome

fetal alcohol syndrome

congenital anomalies or brain malformations

some infections, such as meningitis, measles, or whooping cough

exposure to toxins such as mercury or lead

serious head injury

stroke

maternal disease, such as rubella, drug use, or infection during pregnancy

problems at birth, such as insufficient oxygenation

extreme malnutrition

insufficient medical care

Diagnosis

To diagnose intellectual disability, a doctor will perform several tests to assess the person’s intellectual and adaptive functioning.

These tests may include:

an IQ test (a score of 70–75 may indicate intellectual disability)

interviews with the individual and others who have observed their adaptive functioning — that is, their conceptual, social, and practical functioning — such as family members or teachers

whether or not someone has the skills necessary to live independently

general medical tests

neurological tests

psychological tests

special education tests

hearing, speech, and vision tests

physical therapy evaluations

Intellectual disability tends to develop and cause noticeable symptoms before the age of 18 years.

Treatment and management

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 person’s:

strengths

needs

support needed to function

additional conditions

Many services exist to help people with intellectual disability and their families get the support they need. Most of these services allow someone with intellectual disability to function normally in society.

Someone’s diagnosis typically determines which services and protection of rights, such as special education or home or community services, they are eligible to receive under federal or national law. It also usually helps determine which supportive services they may need.

Supportive services include:

early interventions that work to identify intellectual disability in infants and toddlers

special education and academic support, such as individual education plans, which are available in the U.S. under federal law for free to every child with intellectual disability

transition services that help people with intellectual disability transition to adulthood after high school

day programs

vocational programs, such as job coaching or skill learning

housing options

case managers to help coordinate services and ensure that the individual receives proper care

psychological or psychiatric services

speech and language pathology or audiology services

therapeutic recreation

rehabilitation counseling

adapted equipment or assistive technology

Family members, caregivers, friends, co-workers, and community members can also provide additional support to people with intellectual disability.

With proper support and treatment, most people with intellectual disability are capable of achieving successful, production roles in their communities.

However, how well someone is able to cope and function with intellectual disability is also dependent on the severity of their condition and any other underlying genetic or medical conditions they have.

TYPE OF DOCTOR AND DEPARTMENT : Paediatric Neurologist SPECIALIST CAN DIAGNOSES THIS DISEASE.