Intellectual disability is the condition in which the person who is suffering from this condition is unable to perform advanced thinking and actions. It is a neurodevelopmental disorder that can be permanent. This condition was previously called as mental retardation. However, after sensitising the issue and taking an inclusive approach most people use the term intellectual disability. As the name suggests, in most cases, the disability can last for life. In spite of the permanency of the condition proper trainings, treatments and therapies can improve the life quality of affected people by a huge margin.
Common Symptoms of Intellectual Disability
Intellectual Disability may be caused by a number of reasons including genetics, other diseases, head injury, or other co-morbid conditions like autism. Even iodine deficiency can cause intellectual disability in malnourished kids. Other common causes can be complications in child birth, problems during pregnancy, etc. It often manifests in young children and has the following symptoms.
- Inability to perform basic motor skills during childhood like sitting, walking etc.
- Learning or comprehension difficulties. That is inability to understand what the other person is communicating. It can also result in stunted growth.
- Difficulty in understanding and processing language.
- Behavioural problems and not adhering by the social standards.
- Difficulty in adjusting with the new places and new conditions.
Raising a Child is a Lifelong Commitment
Intellectual disability manifests even as a child in case of genetic disorders. This puts you as a parent with a child to undergo a lot of stress and strain during the development years of the child. You have to be prepared to undertake the whole care of the child. Since, the comprehension and lingual skills will be challenged, it will take extra duration for the child to take care of the basic actions.
You should brush, bathe and dress the kid. As a result, you might feel bad in front of the relatives and unknown people. However, the key thing is to understand that you’re not living your life for others and strangers. You are living your life for yourselves and your kids. So, always feel confident and take care of the kids without any inhibition.
At the same time, never allow someone else to decide what or how you feel.
Educational needs of the child is also different from that of others. You should never compare the abilities of your child with that of the others. Appreciate them and feel happy for each small victory the kid achieves.
Feeling loved and wanted eases the life of children with intellectual disability. At times, the communication skills of the children will be low and it could pose challenging situations. So, spend more time with the child and understand the gestures and sounds that they make or speak.
Social skills will definitely be a challenge for children with the disability. It needs proper sensitisation of the family members. Remember, intellectual disability is not a disease and all forms of abnormalities should be approached with an open mind. Never let anyone judge your child or you for that matter.
Managing Intellectual Disability
Intellectual disability is a semi-permanent condition and most cases of intellectual disease require specialised care and medical attention. At Serene Life Hospital, we provide the necessary trainings for parents to take care of the kids with the condition.
For certain conditions, proper medication can help in reduction of the symptoms and betterment of the life quality. Antipsychotic drugs, mood stabilisers and other psychotropic drugs can also have a positive effect on the people suffering from intellectual disability.
Due to the nature of the disability, it can often be coupled with other physical and mental conditions that can have dire consequences. So, always approach a physician at the earliest and understand the full scale of the condition. The earlier you detect the disability from the symptoms, the easier it gets to train the person.
For some people the level of the issue won’t be chronic and they can lead a positive life by continuous trainings and treatments. Management of the condition can ensure a happy and long life for the person suffering from intellectual disability. While achieving a prodigy level intelligence is still a long shot, one can lead a normal life after proper training and therapies.
For further queries and doubts about intellectual disability, contact the expert counsellors at Serene Life Hospital.
