Intellectual Disability

Intellectual disability is defined as significantly impaired cognitive functioning with deficits in two or more adaptive behaviors that appear before adulthood. Limitations of intellectual disability or cognitive function will cause a child to develop and learn more slowly than a typical child. It may take longer to learn language, self-care and develop social skills. General learning will take longer and require more repetition.

• Symptoms of Intellectual Disability
• Some Causes of Intellectual Disability
• Psychotherapy for Intellectual Disability
• Medical Classification and Help for Intellectual Disability

Symptoms of Intellectual Disability

Symptoms of intellectual disability may include:

• Deficits in memory skills

• Delays in oral language development

• Delays in developing adaptive behaviors such as self-care or self-help

• Difficulty learning social rules

• Difficulty with problem-solving skills

• Lack of social inhibitors

Some Causes of Intellectual Disability

While not all causes of intellectual disability are known, many causes have been identified. They include:

• At birth: lack of oxygen or other problems during labor and birth

• During pregnancy: improperly developed fetus, fetal infection

• Exposure to toxins/disease: lead and mercury poisoning; whooping cough, meningitis, measles

• Genetic: abnormal genes inherited from parents

• Iodine deficiency

• Inborn: fetal alcohol syndrome, fragile X syndrome, down syndrome

• Malnutrition

Psychotherapy for Intellectual Disability

Psychotherapy may be offered at the many thousands of agencies around the world that provide assistance for persons faced with intellectual disabilities. These agencies may include services such as residential homes, day rehabilitation programs and workshops where people faced with intellectual disabilities can obtain jobs, homes and much more. There are specific psychotherapeutic programs for people faced with intellectual disabilities where they can take part and learn basic life skills, and set and achieve life goals while learning to obtain independence.

Medical Classification and Help for Intellectual Disability

Listed under additional codes in the DSM is borderline intellectual functioning. Intellectual disability is characterized as a generalized disorder in which a person's cognitive functioning is significantly impaired and has deficits in two or more adaptive behaviors that appear before adulthood. Although there is no cure or specific medication for persons faced with intellectual disabilities, some medications have been found useful in treatment. Anti-psychotic drugs or mood stabilizers may help with behavior and/or depressive symptoms.

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