INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY

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.

What are some of the signs of intellectual disability?

Usually, the more severe the degree of intellectual disability, the earlier the signs can be noticed. However, it might still be hard to tell how young children will be affected later in life.

There are many signs of intellectual disability. For example, children with intellectual disability may:

  • sit up, crawl, or walk later than other children

  • learn to talk later, or have trouble speaking

  • find it hard to remember things

  • have trouble understanding social rules

  • have trouble seeing the results of their actions

  • have trouble solving problems

What can I do if I think my child may have intellectual disability?

Talk with your child’s doctor or nurse. If you or your doctor think there could be a problem, you can take your child to see a developmental pediatrician or other specialist, and you can contact your local early intervention agency (for children under 3) or public school (for children 3 and older). To find out who to speak to in your area, you can contact the Parent Center in your state: www.parentcenterhub.org/find-yourcenter/external icon.

To help your child reach his or her full potential, it is very important to get help for him or her as early as possible!



INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY AND SPECIAL EDUCATION

A child with an Intellectual Disability shall have reduced general intellectual functioning existing concurrently with deficits in adaptive behavior and manifested during the developmental period, which prevents the child from receiving reasonable educational benefit from general education. There are two key components within this definition: a student’s IQ and his or her capability to function independently, usually referred to as adaptive behavior.

An IQ below 70 to 75 indicates an intellectual disability. Adaptive behavior refers to the domains and skills that people need to function independently at home, at school, and in the community. Adaptive behavior skills include:

  • Communication: Interacting with others, using expressive and receptive language, writing, and listening, etc.

  • Self-Care: Eating, dressing, hygiene, toileting, grooming, etc.

  • Home Living: Caring for clothes, housekeeping, performing property maintenance, preparing food, cooking, budgeting, etc.

  • Social: Getting along with others, being aware of other people’s feelings, forming relationships.

  • Motor: Fine motor, gross motor, sensory motor, etc.

  • Practical Academics: Literacy and numeracy, etc.

  • Community: Accessing the community, transportation, shopping, safety, medical, etc.

Sources: CDC, WebMD and Thrive Center