INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY – IDD
INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY DISORDER – OVERVIEW
Intellectual Disability involves limitations in two primary areas:
Intellectual Functioning: This pertains to a person’s ability to learn, solve problems, and make judgments. It reflects their cognitive capacity.
Adaptive Functioning: Adaptive functioning encompasses a person’s skills in daily life activities such as communication, self-care, and independent living. It gauges how effectively an individual can navigate everyday tasks.
Intelligence Quotient (IQ):
- IQ is a measure of a person’s cognitive abilities, typically assessed through standardized tests. An average IQ score is 100, with most people falling within the range of 85 to 115.
- An IQ score below 70 to 75 is considered indicative of intellectual disability, indicating challenges in intellectual functioning.
Signs of Intellectual Disability in Children:
- The presentation of signs can vary based on the severity of the condition.
- Common indicators include delayed attainment of developmental milestones like rolling over, sitting up, crawling, and walking.
- Speech development may be slower, and children may struggle with tasks such as potty training, dressing, and feeding.
- Memory difficulties and challenges in understanding actions’ consequences may be observed.
- Behavioral issues, limited problem-solving skills, and difficulties in logical thinking can also be apparent.
Fragile X Syndrome: A Leading Genetic Cause of Intellectual Disability:
Fragile X Syndrome, stemming from a genetic mutation in the X chromosome, is the most common worldwide genetic source of inherited intellectual disability. Those born with this syndrome may exhibit a wide range of physical, developmental, and emotional challenges, with varying severity. Common signs include developmental delays, intellectual disability, communication difficulties, anxiety, ADHD, and behaviors resembling autism. Notably, it affects more boys than girls, with an incidence of around 1 in 3,600 boys and 1 in 4,000 to 6,000 girls.
Down Syndrome: A Genetic Chromosomal Disorder
Down syndrome is not an illness but a genetic disorder that arises when an individual is born with an additional full or partial copy of chromosome 21 in their DNA.
It is the most prevalent genetic chromosomal disorder and a leading cause of learning disabilities in children. In Australia, around 270 children, or one in 1,100, are born with Down syndrome annually.
People with Down syndrome commonly exhibit specific physical and developmental characteristics, including a slight upward slant of the eyes, a rounded face, and shorter stature. They also have a higher incidence of respiratory and heart conditions.
Intellectual and learning disabilities are often associated with Down syndrome, but the extent and nature of these challenges can vary significantly among individuals.
Developmental Delay: Developmental delay in children signifies slower progress in one or more areas of development compared to same-age peers, affecting skills like communication and movement. While some children may eventually catch up, for others, the delay may intensify, influencing their learning and social interactions.
Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS): PWS is a rare genetic disorder (1 in 10,000 to 20,000) characterized by relentless and insatiable hunger, usually beginning at age two. It’s linked to poor muscle tone, short stature, intellectual disability, and distinct facial features. Affected individuals struggle with language, problem-solving, and mathematics due to an abnormality in chromosome 15 genes.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD): FASD encompasses a range of conditions resulting from alcohol exposure in utero. It leads to various symptoms, including facial features, joint deformities, organ damage, stunted growth, learning difficulties, memory issues, behavioral problems, and impaired social skills. FASD cases can be misdiagnosed as autism or ADHD. The World Health Organization strongly advises complete alcohol abstinence for expectant or potential mothers.
Other Causes of Intellectual Disabilities: Intellectual disabilities may also arise from diverse environmental factors such as infections, birth complications, toxin exposure, illness-related complications, malnutrition, substance exposure, and trauma.
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DACAL is a school which caters to children with developmental delays, learning difficulties and special needs.
CONTACT US
DACAL - Darul Ansar Centre for Applied Learning
Anjuman-e-Himayath-e-Islam
#16, B.N. Reddy Road, Chennai 600 017.
Phone: 044 4901 4553, 98842 70480
Mon-Fri: 8:30 am – 3:30 pm