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INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY

Intellectual Disability is a condition due to inadequate, arrested or abnormal development of the brain, or damage to the brain, during the developmental period (that is, from the time of conception to 18 years). Consequently many areas of functioning are affected, leading to overall slow growth and development of skills which contribute to the overall level of intelligence, that is, cognitive language, motor and social abilities.

CAUSES

Intellectual Disability has multiple causative factors having onset before, during and after birth accordingly, etiology of Intellectual Disability can be grouped under pre-conceptual, pre-natal peri-natal and post-natal factors.              

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PRE-CONCEPTION

  • Early age of teenage conception(<18 years)

  • Elderly age conception(> 35 years)

  • Uncontrolled sugar levels three months before pregnancy

  • Chromosomal abnormalities

  • Undernourished women before pregnancy

  • Infections like (TORCH)- Toxoplasmosis, others(syphilis, HIV etc.,), Rubella, Cytomegalovirus, Herpes Simplex - II

PRE-NATAL

PERI-NATAL

POST-NATAL

  • Alcohol

  • Attempted abortion

  • Bleeding during late pregnancy

  • Chromosomal abnomalities

  • Drugs like Thalidomide, Anti- Epileptics, Anti – Inflammatory

  • Endocrinal disorders

  • Exposure to radiation

  • Infections

  • Malnutrition

  • Metabolic disorders

  • Pregnancy induced diabetes

  • Pregnancy induced Hypertension

  • Rh incompatibility

  • Threatened abortion

  • Tobacco/Nicotine’s

  • Trauma

  • Abnormal presentation

  • Birth asphyxia

  • Cord round the neck

  • Forceps delivery

  • Low birth weight

  • Multiple pregnancies

  • Post term

  • Premature rupture of membranes

  • Preterm

  • Prolonged, obstructed labor

  • Sepsis during delivery

  • Endocrinal disorders

  • Genetic abnormalities – Inborn errors of metabolism

  • Gross under stimulation and experiential deprivation

  • Head injury

  • Hypoglycemia

  • Infections

  • Respiratory distress

  • Seizures

  • Toxins

CHARACTERISTICS OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES

  • Absense of clarity

  • Age inappropriate behaviour

  • Delay in development

  • Inability to decide

  • Inability to learn fast

  • Inability to understand quickly

  • Inability to remember

  • Lack of concentration

  • Lack of motor coordination

  • Slow reaction

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