Intellectual Disability

Category

Childhood Disorders

• Also referred to as ‘intellectual disability and ‘intellectual developmental disorder’.
• It is a developmental disorder that arises due to arrested or incomplete development of the mind.
• Usually seen by 3-5 years of age.
• Characterized by significant impairments in Intellectual functioning (Academic Performance) and Adaptive behavior during the developmental period.
• It is estimated that nearly 2.5% of the global population has MR/ID.

These children are mostly seen with:

1. Delayed milestones of development

2. Poor ability to learn new things

3. Poor speech and comprehension

4. Poor self-help skills

5. And poor school performance

6. Poor memory

7. Behavioral problems such as impulsivity, self-injurious behavior, or sleep/appetite disturbances.

An IQ cut-off of 70 is used to identify the ID and its categorization into four severity levels:

• Mild (IQ 50-69),
• Moderate (IQ 35-49),
• Severe (IQ 20-34)
• Profound (IQ less than 20)

Intellectual disability is a permanent condition therefore it creates special needs for both the individual and family across the life span.