Causes and risk factors for intellectual disabilities
Anytime something occurs that interferes with a person’s normal brain development there is the risk for the development of intellectual disability. More specifically, intellectual disability can be caused by a problem that starts any time before the age of 18 as a result of injury, disease, or abnormality in the brain. However, the exact cause can only be determined about a third of the time. The most common causes and risk factors include:
Genetic: Sometimes it is possible for intellectual disability to be caused by abnormal genes that have been inherited or from errors that occur when genes combine. Some examples of these genetic conditions include Down syndrome and fragile X syndrome.
Physical: The presence of some diseases and infections such as whooping cough, the measles, or meningitis can lead to intellectual disability. Additionally, intellectual disability can be caused by extreme malnutrition, not getting enough medical care, or exposure to poisons like lead or mercury.
Environmental: Problems during pregnancy that interfere with the fetal brain being able to develop properly can result in intellectual disability. Some of these interferences can include drug or alcohol use, maternal malnutrition, preeclampsia, and infections during pregnancy. Also, problems during childbirth, including extreme prematurity and oxygen deprivation increase the risk for intellectual disabilities. Finally, traumatic brain injuries, extreme malnutrition, and near-drowning have the potential to cause the onset of intellectual disabilities.
Risk Factors:
- Malnutrition
- Low parental IQ
- Prenatal alcohol or drug exposure
- Contraction of illnesses or infections while in utero
- Deprivation of oxygen during birth
- Brain injury
FAQs
Some of the most common symptoms can include: Learning and developing more slowly than other children same age. Rolling over, sitting up, crawling, or walking much later than developmentally appropriate. Difficulty communicating or socializing with others.
What is intellectual disability and the signs and symptoms? ›
Some of the most common symptoms can include: Learning and developing more slowly than other children same age. Rolling over, sitting up, crawling, or walking much later than developmentally appropriate. Difficulty communicating or socializing with others.
What IQ is considered intellectual disability? ›
Historically, intellectual disability (previously termed “mental retardation”) has been defined by significant cognitive deficits—which has been established through a standardized measure of intelligence, in particular, with an IQ score of below 70 (two standard deviations below the mean of 100 in the population)—and ...
What difficulties does a person with an intellectual disability encounter? ›
An intellectual disability may affect a person's ability to learn new information, communicate, cope and effectively solve problems on their own. Having an intellectual disability can create stress and vulnerability, for both the person and their support network.
How do you determine if someone has an intellectual disability? ›
Diagnosing Intellectual Disability
A full-scale IQ score of around 70 to 75 indicates a significant limitation in intellectual functioning. However, the IQ score must be interpreted in the context of the person's difficulties in general mental abilities.
What are the four most common syndromes associated with intellectual disability? ›
Some causes of intellectual disability—such as Down syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, birth defects, and infections—can happen before birth. Some happen while a baby is being born or soon after birth.
Which is a common characteristic of an intellectual disability? ›
Individuals with intellectual disabilities have substantial deficits in adaptive behavior. They show limitations in self-care skills such as dressing, eating, and hygiene. Making and sustaining friendships and personal relationships can be challenging due to inappropriate behaviors and poor language development.
What are the symptoms of mild intellectual disability in adults? ›
Concurrent cognitive difficulties are common among individuals with mild intellectual disability. These difficulties often relate to concentration, motor control, language/communication, social interaction, sight and hearing, and present additional problems that need to be recognised.
What is the most common intellectual disability? ›
The most common known preventable or environmental cause of intellectual disability is fetal alcohol syndrome, the most common chromosomal cause is Down syndrome, and the most common genetic cause is Fragile X syndrome.
Is intellectual disability a mental illness? ›
A person with an intellectual disability has a life-long condition of slow intellectual development, where medication has little or no effect. A person with mental illness has a disorder that can be treated with medication, psychotherapy or other supports.
Although IQ represents only a partial expression of giftedness, according to a purely psychometric view, giftedness is defined by an IQ of 130 or higher, placing gifted individuals at least two standard deviations above the population mean.
What are the four levels of mental retardation? ›
The condition is further divided into four levels of retardation based on IQ, which include mild mental retardation (IQ between 50-55 and 70), moderate mental retardation (IQ between 35-40 and 50-55), severe mental retardation (IQ between 20-25 and 35-40), and profound mental retardation (IQ below 20 or 25) (American ...
How do people with intellectual disability behave? ›
Other behavioral traits associated with intellectual disability—but not deemed criteria for a diagnosis—include aggression, dependency, impulsivity, gullibility, passivity, self-injury, stubbornness, low self-esteem, low frustration tolerance, and high risk of suicide.
What body organ is injured and causes intellectual disability? ›
-Spastic quadriplegia/quadriparesis is the most severe form of cerebral palsy and is often associated with moderate-to-severe intellectual disability. It is caused by widespread damage to the brain or significant brain malformations.
What is intellectual disability briefly describe? ›
Intellectual disability is a lifelong condition that affects a person's intellectual skills and their behaviour in different situations. It can include difficulties in communication, memory, understanding, problem solving, self-care, social and emotional skills and physical skills.
Who intellectual disability definition? ›
The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines intellectual disability as “the significantly reduced ability to understand new or complex information and to learn and apply new skills (impaired intelligence).
What is the most common cause of intellectual disability? ›
The most common known preventable or environmental cause of intellectual disability is fetal alcohol syndrome, the most common chromosomal cause is Down syndrome, and the most common genetic cause is Fragile X syndrome.
