Intellectual disability (ID), formerly called mental retardation, is characterized by a lower-than - average intelligence or mental capability and a lack of abilities required for day-to-day life. People with intellectual disabilities can and do learn new things, but they learn more slowly. There are varying degrees of intellectual disability, from moderate to extreme.

 

Signs of intellectual disability in children?

Signs may occur during infancy, which may not be apparent until the child reaches school age. Sometimes this depends on the degree of the condition. Many of the most prominent symptoms of intellectual disability include:

• Rolling over, sitting up, crawling, or walking late
• Talking late or having trouble with talking
• Slow to learn stuff like potty training, grooming, and feeding himself or herself.
• Difficulty remembering things
• Inability to connect actions with consequences
• Behavior problems such as explosive tantrums
• Difficulty with problem-solving or logical thinking

Multiple health issues can also arise in children with serious or significant intellectual disabilities. These issues can include epilepsy, personality disturbances (anxiety, depression, etc.), poor motor skills, vision difficulties, or hearing problems.

 

Causes of Intellectual Disability

Any time anything interferes with natural brain growth, it will result in intellectual disability. However, only about a third of the time will a particular cause of intellectual disability be identified.

The most common causes include:

Genetic conditions. These include things like Down syndrome and fragile X syndrome.

Problems with pregnancy. Things that can interact with fetal brain growth include alcohol or drug usage, malnutrition, certain diseases, or preeclampsia.

Problems in childbirth.  Intellectual disability can occur if a child is deprived of oxygen during childbirth or is born extremely premature.

Illness or injury. Infections such as meningitis, whooping cough, or measles may lead to intellectual disability. Serious head injury, near-drowning, acute malnutrition, brain damage, exposure to toxic chemicals such as asbestos, and significant negligence or violence may all cause it.

 

Prevention

Many causes of intellectual disability can be avoided. The most common is fetal alcohol syndrome. Pregnant women are not allowed to drink alcohol. Having adequate prenatal treatment, taking prenatal supplements, and being vaccinated against such contagious diseases can also reduce the likelihood that your child will be born with intellectual disabilities.

Genetic tests may be recommended prior to pregnancy in families with a history of genetic diseases.

Such examinations, such as ultrasound and amniocentesis, can also be conducted during breastfeeding to examine issues associated with intellectual disability. While these tests can detect issues before birth, they cannot be reversed.

 

How is intellectual disability diagnosed?

Intellectual deficiency may be reported for a variety of different reasons. If a child has physical anomalies that indicate a developmental or metabolic condition, a number of tests can be performed to support a diagnosis. These include blood samples, urine checks, ultrasounds to check for structural abnormalities in the brain, or electroencephalogram (EEG) testing to check for signs of epilepsy.

 

 

REFERENCES

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK547654/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK332877/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/mesh?Db=mesh&Cmd=DetailsSearch&Term=%22Intellectual+Disability%22%5BMeSH+Terms%5D

 

---

Find articles related to: Medicine Telehealth Health Mental Health Mental Retardation Intellectual Disability


More articles about Mental Health

Back to the Health Tips Index