Running head: INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES 1 Intellectual Disabilities 6 Intellectual Disabilities Introduction Intellectual disability in lay man terms would be the disability to perform intelligent functioning of the human brain. The performance of everyday social and practical skills requires intellectual functioning and adaptive behaviour which are in-built abilities in most normal human beings. The ones who possess intellectual disability are often limited by their intellectual functioning and adaptive behaviour skills. This disability is generally spotted in individuals before they reach the age of 18 (Intellectual Disability (n.d.)). Now we read more into the two parts of intellectual disability: intellectual functioning and adaptive behaviour. · Intellectual functioning: In lay man terms, intellectual functioning is more commonly known as intelligence which largely helps in learning, reasoning, problem solving, mental capacity, etc. This is also known as IQ or the intelligence quotient and generally a score of 70 or 75 indicates a limitation in intellectual functioning. Basically, intellectual functioning part helps an individual to learn something, reason, make decisions and solve problems. · Adaptive behaviour – These skills are required to deal with day-to-day life and the activities that we engage in every day. This involves communicating with other individuals, analysing the behaviour of others and respond accordingly. The limitations of adaptive behaviour can also be screened by standardized tests which comprises three basic skill types: · Conceptual skills – this involves language, education, money, time and number concepts along with self direction · Social skills – this involves interpersonal skills, social responsibility, self-esteem, gullibility, social problem solving, the ability to follow rules and to avoid being victimized · Practical skills – this involves the daily activities, occupational skills, healthcare, travel, routines, usage of money and telephone usage Hence in order to determine the intellectual disability of an individual, the above mentioned characteristics need to be kept in mind (Definition of Intellectual Disability, ( n.d.)). Symptoms and causes of intellectual disability There are various symptoms of intellectual disability that could go unnoticed for years till it becomes very evident. Sometimes it is noticeable during infancy and sometimes may remain dormant until the child reaches school going age and then the degree of disability starts to deteriorate and then show major symptoms. “The symptoms are as follows: · Rolling over, sitting up, crawling or walking late · Talking late or having trouble with talking · Slow to master things like potty training, dressing, and feeding himself or herself · Difficulty remembering things · Inability to connect actions with consequences · Behaviour problems such as explosive tantrums · Difficulty with proble.

1. Running head: INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES 1
Intellectual Disabilities
6
Intellectual Disabilities
Introduction
Intellectual disability in lay man terms would be the disability
to perform intelligent functioning of the human brain. The
performance of everyday social and practical skills requires
intellectual functioning and adaptive behaviour which are in-
built abilities in most normal human beings. The ones who
possess intellectual disability are often limited by their
intellectual functioning and adaptive behaviour skills. This
disability is generally spotted in individuals before they reach
the age of 18 (Intellectual Disability (n.d.)).
Now we read more into the two parts of intellectual
disability: intellectual functioning and adaptive behaviour.
· Intellectual functioning: In lay man terms, intellectual
functioning is more commonly known as intelligence which
largely helps in learning, reasoning, problem solving, mental
capacity, etc. This is also known as IQ or the intelligence
quotient and generally a score of 70 or 75 indicates a limitation
in intellectual functioning. Basically, intellectual functioning
part helps an individual to learn something, reason, make
decisions and solve problems.
· Adaptive behaviour – These skills are required to deal with
day-to-day life and the activities that we engage in every day.
This involves communicating with other individuals, analysing
the behaviour of others and respond accordingly. The
limitations of adaptive behaviour can also be screened by
standardized tests which comprises three basic skill types:
· Conceptual skills – this involves language, education, money,
time and number concepts along with self direction
· Social skills – this involves interpersonal skills, social

2. responsibility, self-esteem, gullibility, social problem solving,
the ability to follow rules and to avoid being victimized
· Practical skills – this involves the daily activities,
occupational skills, healthcare, travel, routines, usage of money
and telephone usage
Hence in order to determine the intellectual disability of an
individual, the above mentioned characteristics need to be kept
in mind (Definition of Intellectual Disability, ( n.d.)).
Symptoms and causes of intellectual disability
There are various symptoms of intellectual disability that could
go unnoticed for years till it becomes very evident. Sometimes
it is noticeable during infancy and sometimes may remain
dormant until the child reaches school going age and then the
degree of disability starts to deteriorate and then show major
symptoms. “The symptoms are as follows:
· Rolling over, sitting up, crawling or walking late
· Talking late or having trouble with talking
· Slow to master things like potty training, dressing, and
feeding himself or herself
· Difficulty remembering things
· Inability to connect actions with consequences
· Behaviour problems such as explosive tantrums
· Difficulty with problem-solving or logical thinking”
(Intellectual Disability, (n.d.)).
It has been seen over medical history that children with severe
intellectual disability have other medical/health conditions as
well which deteriorates as the intellectual disability
deteriorates. These health conditions include seizures, mental
disorders, motor handicaps, vision problems or hearing
problems (Intellecutal Disability Treatment).
The causes for intellectual disability have perplexed doctors for
ages and it can only be deciphered for one-third of the cases.
The causes that have generally come out more often in medical
history are as follows:
· Genetic conditions – The most common are Down syndrome
and Fragile X syndrome

3. · Problems during pregnancy – These include the various things
that might interfere with foetus development like drugs,
smoking, alcohol, malnutrition, certain infections or
preeclampsia.
· Problems during childbirth – It might occur if the child has
limited access to oxygen during childbirth or is delivered
prematurely
· Illness or injury – “Infections like meningitis, head injuries,
near-drowning, and exposure to toxic substances, whooping
cough or measles can lead to intellectual disability”.
(Intellectual Disability, (n.d.)).
These are the most noted symptoms and causes of intellectual
disability (Treatment of an intellectual disability).
Treatment and diagnosis of intellectual disability
It is true that there is no cure for intellectual disability but
the conditions around them can be altered so that they thrive for
their entire lifetime. The environment around the disabled can
be made safer to allow for lifetime independent survival. The
services and support play a very important role in these matters
which cover everything from employment, education,
healthcare, recreation, justice, housing, etc. We are already
aware of the standardized tests that the doctors use for
analysing intellectual disability (Treatment of an Intellectual
Disability).
The services that aid the disable in maintaining a healthy life
and live under a comfort zone are as follows:
· Case management which involves a manager to help the person
put in an application for Medicaid that will allow the disabled
to received a variety of support like daily living needs, health
care and long term support and services
· Family support like respite care
· Vocational programs
· Day programs
· Residential options
· Early intervention
· Special education

4. · Transition services
Every individual diagnosed with intellectual
disability has a differentiated case and there is no particular
treatment for any generalised disability. Hence every case needs
to be treated with utmost care and attention. Specialized
treatment officers have to be allocated for different individuals
and the individuals must be monitored over a period of time to
see whether the treatment is having any kind of effect on the
disabled person (Psychological treatments in intellectual
disability: the challenges of building a good evidence base,
(n.d)).
The supports may also include the resources and individual
strategies required for the development of the disabled,
education, interest and the well-being of the treated person.
Such support can come from anywhere like family, friends, and
community or from a service centre. The support can also be
provided by a parent, sibling, friend, teacher or any other
person who is willing to extend a hand. The safety of the
disabled is a must whenever there is a support or multiple
supports in place and apart from the development feature of the
individual or the support’s objective, the environment created
by the support must be made comfortable for the disable person
undergoing treatment through such support (Historical And
Contemporary Perspectives on Intellectual Disabilities).
Conclusion
Intellectual disabilities are essentially complex and stands apart
from other classes of disabilities that have no particular
treatment and it is indeed a challenge for the disabled to thrive
over time and in most cases, the disabled are unaware of their
circumstances and the medical conditions. These disabilities
manifest in many different ways and due to many different
causes. It does not only vary across periods but also across
cultures.
The challenges are mainly due to the daily difficulties of living
with a certain diagnosed disability and such challenges are
intensified by social stigma and cruelty. The ignorance about

5. the same gives way to negative social perceptions which affects
both the people with the disability and their families.
Initially the intellectual disabilities were known by many names
but now many cases have been generalized and there is
continued research in the same field. The social prejudices of
certain periods were responsible for the nomenclature of many
of distinguished disabilities. Due to the social illogical
construct, the humanity of these people was assumed to be
overshadowed by their illness. They are often called “mental
retards” which objectifies them as things and not a person
which is an insult on their personality. Irrespective of a medical
condition of person, it is degrading to be called such names and
it has haunted many generations of families to treat their
disabled family member as it would bring along a social stigma
that would ruin their prestige in this so called informed and
rational society.
References
Definition of Intellectual Disability. (n.d.). Retrieved on May
23, 2013, from http://www.aaidd.org/content_100.cfm
Historical And Contemporary Perspectives on Intellectual
Disabilities. (n.d.). Retrieved on May 23, 2013, from
http://www.hsccs.org/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=10353&c
n=208
Intellectual Disability (Mental Retardation). (n.d.). Retrieved on
May 23, 2013, from http://children.webmd.com/intellectual-
disability-mental-retardation
Intellecutal Disability Treatment. (n.d.). Retrieved on May 23,
2013, from http://www.thirdage.com/hc/c/intellectual-disability-
treatment
Psychological treatments in intellectual disability: the
challenges of building a good evidence base . (n.d.). Retrieved
on May 23, 2013, from
http://bjp.rcpsych.org/content/198/6/428.full
Treatment of an intellectual disability. (n.d.). Retrieved on May
23, 2013, from http://www.thearc.org/page.aspx?pid=2545