Intellectual Disability
Intellectual Disability
A child with an intellectual disability does not have the same mental abilities as other children of the same age group. Children with intellectual disabilities may not be able to keep up in school. They may have problems with memory. Some learn at a slower speed or have trouble expressing themselves. These children may have problems dealing with daily living. Being able to play with other kids, taking a bath, or doing homework may be a problem for a child with an intellectual disability. Intellectual disability may be mild or severe. This is based on a child's IQ or intelligence quotient. It is also based on how hard it is for a child to function in life. The normal IQ of a person ranges from 90 to 110. A child with an IQ level of 70 or 75 and below is intellectually disabled. Severe intellectual disability is present when the IQ is below 35 or 40. Doctors may not label an intellectual disability until after a child is 5 years old. This is because the testing is not accurate in younger children. However, they may offer ideas to build on a child’s strengths. Some children with an intellectual disability may also have developmental delays. They may have problems with crawling or walking. Not all children with a developmental delay will have an intellectual disability.
