Intellectual Disability Causes and Identification

What is intellectual disability?

If a kid has an intellectual disability, once called mental retardation (MR), is characterized by

below average intelligence or mental ability and a lack of skills necessary for day to day living. It means that he or she learns and develops more slowly than other kids. 

Someone who has an intellectual disability will have trouble learning and functioning in everyday life. This person could be 10 years old, but might not talk or write as well as a typical 10-year-old. He or she also is usually slower to learn other skills, like how to get dressed or how to act around other people.

Someone with intellectual disability has limitations in two areas. These areas are:

1. Intellectual functioning. - Also known as IQ, this refers to a person’s ability to learn, reason, make decisions, and solve problems.
2. Adaptive behaviors. - These are skills necessary for day-to-day life, such as being able to communicate effectively, interact with others, and take care of oneself.

What are the signs of intellectual disability in children?

There are many different signs of intellectual disability in children. Signs may appear during infancy, or they may not be noticeable until a child reaches school age. It often depends on the severity of the disability. Some of the most common signs of intellectual disability are:

• Rolling over, sitting up, crawling, or walking late
• Talking late or having trouble with talking
• Slow to master things like potty training, dressing, 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

In children with severe or profound intellectual disability, there may be other health problems as well. These problems may include seizures, mental disorders, motor handicaps, vision problems, or hearing problems.

Kids with intellectual disabilities want to develop their skills to the best of their abilities. They want to go to school, play, and feel support from loving families and good friends.

What can you do? If you know someone who has an intellectual disability, be a friend. How? Sometimes, it might mean telling a teacher if you see this person being teased or bullied. Other times, it can be as simple as saying something kind, like "Hey, I like your hat!"

If you can't think of anything, just say, "hi." It's a little word that could make that person's day.