Pediatrics- Intellectual Disability

What is intellectual disability?

• neurodevelopmental disorder

• characterized by significantly below average intellectual functioning as well as deficits in two or more adaptive areas

Intelligence Testing

• determined by standardized testing

• IQ scores range from 0-145

Average IQ

• median = 100

• average 85-115

• standard deviation is 15

ID based on IQ scores

• 59-69: mild

• 36-49: moderate

• 20-35: severe

• less than 20: profound

Adaptive functioning

conceptual, social, and practical abilities that children rely on to adapt to changing environments

Mental Age

age at which a child or adolescent is actually functioning

Cause and Incidence

• include genetic factors, problems during pregnancy, difficult births, and health problems

• prenatal causes- genetic, exposure to teratogens

• perinatal- lack of oxygen, prematurity

• postnatal- infections, trauma, toxins, neglect

Mild ID

• IQ of 50-69

• problems in attaining higher levels of cognitive and performance skills

• as an adult, lives alone with minimal supervision and partially or completely supports self financially

Moderate ID

• IQ of 36-49

• needs regular support, likely to have deficits in academic, communicative and social skills

Severe ID

• IQ of 20-35

• requires regular support in all areas of occupational performance on a regular basis

Profound ID

• IQ less than 20

mental functions: functional implications

• often have delayed/absent global mental functioning

• attention deficits

• emotional instability

• impulsive

• primary goal of intervention

Language functions

• shorter attention spans

• difficulty recalling and retrieving words

• difficulty with articulation

• intervention

Behavioral/Emotional Functions

• psychosocial disorders

• self-stimulating behaviors

• hyperactivity, aggressiveness, excessive shyness and distractibility

Sensory Function and Pain: Functional Implications

• visual or auditory problems

• tactile defensiveness, oral hypersensitivity

Movement-Related Functions

• reach motor milestones later than usual

• low muscle tone

• oral motor control

• may exhibit a wide range of motor problems and difficulty learning complex motor tasks

System Functions

• more susceptible to cardiac, pulmonary, blood, digestive, metabolic, urinary, reproductive and skin conditions than peers

• food allergies

• side effects from medicines