What causes a mild intellectual disability?

Some of the most common known causes of intellectual disability – like Down syndrome, fetal alcohol syndrome, fragile X syndrome, genetic conditions, birth defects, and infections – happen before birth. Others happen while a baby is being born or soon after birth.

What is the main cause of mild intellectual disability?

Several hundred causes have been discovered, but in about one-third of the people affected, the cause remains unknown. The three major known causes of intellectual disability are Down syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and Fragile X syndrome.

What does it mean to have a mild intellectual disability?

Mild intellectual disability (previously known as mild mental retardation) refers to deficits in intellectual functions pertaining to abstract/theoretical thinking. Mild intellectual disability occurs in approximately 1.5 percent of the population.

What is the most common known cause of intellectual disability?

The most common known preventable or environmental cause of intellectual disability is fetal alcohol syndrome, the most common chromosomal cause is Down syndrome, and the most common genetic cause is Fragile X syndrome.

Can you have a mild intellectual disability?

Intellectual disability affects about 1% of the population, and of those about 85% have mild intellectual disability. Males are more likely than females to be diagnosed with intellectual disability.

Intellectual disability and scientific research: from diagnosis to treatment

Is mild intellectual disability genetic?

Genetic and environmental causes explain, in roughly equal proportions, about 30% of mild intellectual disability; an etiological diagnosis is not obtained in the remaining 70% of cases.

What is the IQ of a mild intellectual disability?

Persons with a mild intellectual disability (MID; intelligence quotient (IQ) range 50–69) or borderline intellectual functioning (BIF; IQ range 70–85) are vulnerable for problems in different domains.

Are you born with an intellectual disability?

For many children, the cause of their intellectual disability is unknown. Some causes of intellectual disability—such as Down syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, birth defects, and infections—can happen before birth. Some happen while a baby is being born or soon after birth.

What are three factors that can cause intellectual disability?

Does intellectual disability run in families?

Intellectual disability is rarely inherited -- risk for younger siblings is low. Summary: Intellectual disability is most often caused by changes to the genome that take place in early fetal development and are not found in the parents' DNA.

Can mild intellectual disability be cured?

Intellectual disability is not a disease and cannot be cured, however early diagnosis and ongoing interventions can improve adaptive functioning throughout one's childhood and into adulthood. With ongoing support and interventions, children with intellectual disability can learn to do many things.

What does a mild intellectual disability look like?

Some of the symptoms of mild intellectual disability include: taking longer to learn to talk, but communicating well once they know how. being fully independent in self-care when they get older. having problems with reading and writing.

What are the symptoms of mild intellectual disability?

Some of the most common signs of intellectual disability are: 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 themselves.

What are the environmental causes of intellectual disabilities?

Environmental exposure to toxins

Pre- and post-natal exposure to toxins can cause intellectual disabilities. Of particular concern are lead, mercury, and radiation. Avoiding exposure to these toxins reduces the risk of developing an intellectual disability. Mercury is found in polluted waters.

What factors place people at risk for intellectual disability?

What causes low IQ in a child?

What are the causes of mental subnormality? Mental retardation could occur due to genetic causes such as metabolic disorders, deficiency of metabolic enzymes, hypothyroidism, syndromes such as Down's syndrome, Fragile-X syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome.

What are common characteristics of a person with an intellectual disability?

Is intellectual disability a mental illness?

Intellectual disability vs mental illness

Confusion about the difference between mental illness and intellectual disability is common in the justice system. Some people with intellectual disability may also experience mental illness but the two conditions are very different.

How can I help my child with mild intellectual disability?

At what age is intellectual disability diagnosed?

An individual with ID may have problems with speaking, reading, eating, using a telephone, taking care of themselves, or interacting appropriately with others. In the past, we used to use the term "mental retardation," but we no longer use that term. Intellectual disability is diagnosed before the age of 18.

How can I improve my mild intellectual disability?

Practice social and communication skills. Recognize that parents and caregivers can help improve the functioning of someone with intellectual disability. Be as clear as possible, using demonstrations such as a picture or hands-on materials rather than verbal directions. Break longer and new tasks into simpler steps.

How do you help someone with mild intellectual disability?

What is the mental age of a person with intellectual disability?

In addition to severe deficit in intellectual functioning, persons with severe ID may also have motor impairments and other associated conditions that further limit intellectual and adaptive functioning (8,15). Persons with severe ID function at mental age between 3 and 5 years as adults (8,10,15,16).

Can intellectual disability get worse?

Depending on its cause, ID may be stable and nonprogressive or it may worsen with time. After early childhood, the disorder is chronic and usually lasts an individual's lifetime; however, the severity of the disorder may change with age.

Is ADHD an intellectual disability?

ADHD is considered a developmental disability, not a learning disability. Accommodations can often be made in the classroom or work environment to help people with ADHD be more successful. Therapy and medications are also helpful for managing the symptoms of ADHD.