What is “Intellectual Disability”?
Intellectual disability (ID) is significantly below average intellectual functioning present from birth or early infancy, causing limitations in the ability to conduct normal activities, formally called mental retardation. An intellectual disability could cause a child to learn and develop more slowly than other children of the same age. Statistics reveal that 11 out of 1000 children in India born have intellectual disabilities. Lack of proper awareness in our Indian society forges a stigma around intellectual disability and related disorders. This article mainly focuses on understanding intellectual disability and its diagnosis.
Children with Intellectual Disability
How will you understand your child might have an intellectual disability?
There are different levels of intellectual disabilities , from mild to severe. Detection of ID in children is the most difficult task, as early signs might be confusing. According to CDC , could take longer for a child with an intellectual disability to speak, walk, dress or eat without help, and they could have trouble learning in school. Mental health disorders mainly depression and anxiety are common among children with this condition, as they are treated differently or bullied in some cases.
What causes Intellectual disability?
There are no direct explanations for what causes intellectual disability in children. A range of medical, environmental, and genetic sources are the root causes of ID. The most common genetic causes are down syndrome, fetal alcohol syndrome, fragile X syndrome, birth defects, and prenatal infections. Other sources remain undetected.
What can be done?
To help a child with an Intellectual disability, the first and foremost requirement is a proper diagnosis . The child will be tested first with a few basic test panels like blood tests , and urine tests to check for any physical health issues. Later, tests related to structural imaging of the brain will be conducted to look for evidence of seizures this will help doctors with proper treatment. At Yoda, we have a separate and comprehensive panel to test intellectual disability, specially designed on identifying its hereditary causes. Because children usually don’t understand what is better for them so as a parent you have to come up and get it diagnosed for your child.
Book an appointment for the intellectual disability panel at Yoda.
