Intellectual Disabilities
Florida Definition
An intellectual disability is defined as significantly below average general intellectual and adaptive functioning manifested during the developmental period, with significant delays in academic skills. Developmental period refers to birth to eighteen (18) years of age.
http://www.fldoe.org/academics/exceptional-student-edu/ese-eligibility/intellectual-disabilities-ind.stml
General Overview
Children with intellectual disabilities (sometimes called cognitive disabilities) may take longer to learn to speak, walk, and take care of their personal needs such as dressing or eating. They are likely to have trouble learning in school. They will learn, but it will take them longer. There may be some things they cannot learn.
About 87% of people with an intellectual disability will only be a little slower than average in learning new information and skills. When they are children, their limitations may not be obvious. They may not even be diagnosed as having an intellectual disability until they get to school. As they become adults, many people with mild intellectual disabilities can live independently. Other people may not even consider them as having an intellectual disability. The remaining 13% of people with an intellectual disability score below 50 on IQ tests. These people will have more difficulty in school, at home, and in the community. A person with more severe intellectual disability will need more intensive support his or her entire life. Every child with an intellectual disability is able to learn, develop, and grow. With help, all children with intellectual disabilities can live an inclusive life.
Common Causes
- Genetic conditions. Sometimes an intellectual disability is caused by abnormal genes inherited from parents, errors when genes combine, or other reasons. Examples of genetic conditions are Down syndrome, fragile X syndrome, and phenylketonuria (PKU).
- Problems during pregnancy. An intellectual disability can result when the baby does not develop inside the mother properly. For example, there may be a problem with the way the baby’s cells divide as it grows. A woman who drinks alcohol or gets an infection like rubella during pregnancy may also have a baby with an intellectual disability.
- Problems at birth. If a baby has problems during labor and birth, such as not getting enough oxygen,
- Health problems. Diseases like whooping cough, the measles, or meningitis can cause intellectual disabilities.
- Other factors. They can also be caused by extreme malnutrition, not getting enough medical care, or by being exposed to poisons like lead or mercury.
Indicators
Intellectual disabilities are generally diagnosed by looking at two main things. These are:
- The ability of a person’s brain to learn, think, solve problems, and make sense of the world (called IQ or intellectual functioning); and
- Whether the person has the skills he or she needs to live independently (called adaptive behavior, or adaptive functioning). Intellectual functioning, or IQ, is usually measured by a test called an IQ test. The average score is 100. People scoring below 70 to 75 are thought to have an intellectual disability. To measure adaptive behavior, professionals look at what a child can do in comparison to other children of his or her age. Certain skills are important to adaptive behavior. These are:
- Daily living skills, such as getting dressed, going to the bathroom, and feeding one’s self
- Communication skills, such as understanding what is said and being able to answer
- Social skills with peers, family members, adults, and others
Characteristics
Primary
Cognitive: Decreased cognitive functioning (by at least two standard deviations on standardized IQ and adaptive behavior scales)
Examples include problems with reading, writing and basic math; difficulties with memory recall, task and skill generalization, organization, and decision-making.
Reading- Text to Speech
- Writing
- Word Prediction
- Math
- Math Manipulatives
- Calculators
- Task Management
Communication: Delayed communication development or limited communication.
Examples include delayed language development, limited vocabulary, understanding some ideas and concepts, including complex concepts.
- Single Message Communication
- Communication Device
- Communication Apps
- Talking Word Processors
Emotional: Immaturity
Examples include low motivation and learned helplessness, poor self- determination, choice making, problem solving and goal setting, credulity and gullibility
Social: Immature social behavior
Examples include problems with social skills such as manners, knowing the rules of conversation, getting along in a group, and knowing the appropriate use for such skills in a social setting.
