INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY

INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY
• The term ‘Intellectual Disability’ refers to intellectual functioning that is
considerably below average combined with varying degrees of difficulty in
meeting with demands of everyday life.
• Intellectual Disability is determined by two factors:
• 1. IQ (Intelligence Quotient)
• 2. Adaptive Skills
 DEGREES OF SEVERITY
• Mild Intellectual Disability
• IQ: 55 to approximately 70
• Moderate Intellectual Disability
• IQ: 40 to 55
• Severe Intellectual Disability
• IQ: 25 to 40
• Profound Intellectual Disability
• IQ: Less than 20-25
 MILD INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY
• IQ: 55 to approximately 70
• Largest segment of those with Intellectual Disability (85%)
• Mental age as an adult: 9-11 years
• Acquire basic academic skills but slower than typical in all developmental areas
• Abstract thinking, executive functions and short term memory are impaired.
• Typically develop social/communication skills during preschool years
• Can become Self Supporting
• Functions in daily life
MODERATE INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY
• IQ: 40 to 55
• About 10% of those with Intellectual Disability
• Mental age as an adult: 6-8 years
• Noticeable developmental delays
• May have physical signs of impairment (i.e. thick tongue)
• Generally benefit from social/vocational training and with moderate supervision can attend to personal care
• Most acquire communication skills during early childhood years but faces difficulties in recognizing social
conventions which interferes with peer relations in adolescence
• Able to learn basic health and safety skills but continuous assistance is needed to perform Conceptual Tasks
such as functional academics, self direction.
 SEVERE INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY
• IQ: 25 to 40
• 3 – 4% of those with Intellectual Disability
• Mental age as an adult: 3-5 years
• Understands speech, but little ability to communicate (Acquire little or no communicative speech in
childhood; might learn to talk by school age and be trained in elementary self-care skills)
• Needs direct supervision in social situations
• Continuous assistance needed in personal care skills
• Can’t able to benefit from Vocational training
• Able to perform simple tasks as adults in closely supervised settings
• Physical Abnormalities
PROFOUND INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY
• IQ: Less than 20-25
• 1 – 2% of those Intellectual Disability
• Mental age as an adult: below 3 years
• Obvious physical and congenital abnormalities
• Completely dependent on other
• Nonverbal Communication
• Very Limited Knowledge of Speech and gestures
• Might need complete custodial or nursing care
WHAT CAUSES INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY?

• IQ fall by chance
• Genetic Defect
• Environmental Causes
 TREATMENT
• Once serious retardation is detected, there is no way to undo it.
• The Special training can help in improving adaptive skills but it cannot cure it
completely.
 EARLY PREVENTION
• Early detection of complications
• Reducing the incidence of rubella by immunization
• Prevention of trauma and injuries to brain
• Prevention of drug abuse during pregnancy
• Health Education