Learning Disabilities and Intellectual Disability

what is a learning disability?

a deficiency in specific abilities rather than in global intelligence

how is a learning disability characterized? what does it interfere with?

• academic underachievement in a particular area in comparison with the overall intellectual ability of the child

• ability to store, process or produce information

what is dyslexia?

difficulty reading

what is dysgraphia?

difficulty writing

what is dyscalculia?

difficulty performing mathematical calculations

what are auditory memory and processing disabilities?

difficulty understanding and interpreting words or sounds

what is the most likely cause of learning disabilities?

problems with integrating information or differences in brain structures and functions

what sex is more likely to manifest a learning disability?

males

what are genetic risk factors for learning disabilities?

• positive family history

• abnormalities on chromosomes 6 & 15

• Klinefelter syndrome

• Turner’s syndrome

• male

• developmental language delays

what are medical risk factors for learning disabilities?

• premature infancy

• cyanotic congenital heart disease

• perinatal/postnatal complications

what are environmental risk factors for learning disabilities?

• lead toxicity

• infections

• history of brain injury

who is involved in the multidisciplinary evaluation of learning disabilities?

• primary health care provider

• psychologist/psychiatrist

• educational diagnostician

what is an intellectual disability?

a syndrome that presents a constellation of behavioral findings

what two components are needed to define an intellectual disability?

• significant impairment in intelligence as measured by IQ testing ( <70)

• inability to adapt to expectations of environment

what are organic causes of intellectual disabilities?

genetic disorders or brain damage

what are social-cultural causes of intellectual disabilities?

normal variation along range of intelligence combined with below average environmental influences

what are the classifications of IQ?

• mild: 50-69

• moderate: 35-49

• severe: 20-34

• profound: <20

what are the main causes of mild intellectual disability (IQ 50-69)?

primarily sociocultural causes

• specific cause may not be

what are causes of moderate-profound intellectual disability (IQ <50)?

• chromosomal abnormalities

• other genetic syndromes

• abnormalities in brain development

• errors of metabolism/neurodegenerative disorders

what are the most common genetic, inherited, and preventable causes?

• genetic: Down syndrome

• inherited: fragile X syndrome

• preventable: fetal alcohol syndrome

what are diagnostic clues of intellectual disability?

• dysmorphisms

• genetic syndromes

• associated dysfunction: seizures, cerebral palsy

• lack of achieving developmental milestones

what are common comorbidities of intellectual disabilities?

• ADHD

• depressive and bipolar disorders

• anxiety disorder

• autism spectrum disorder

• impulse control disorders

• cerebral palsy

• seizure disorder

what are multidisciplinary evaluations that should be completed?

• history and PE

• visual and hearing exams

• age appropriate standardized cognitive testing

• psychological evaluation

• chromosomal analysis

• metabolic screening

• neuroimaging

what are interventions for intellectual disabilities based on?

assessment of social, educational, psychiatric, and environmental needs

what is the primary goal of interventions for intellectual disabilities?

reach optimal developmental potential a

what are components of interventions for intellectual disabilities?

• multidisciplinary approach

• comprehensive educational programs

• therapy

• social interactions

• pharmacological treatment

• family education