Intellectual Developmental Disorder
Intellectual Developmental Disorder refers to the limitations of a person’s mental ability to learn and perform daily tasks such as communicating and taking care of oneself. These limitations may cause an individual to learn more slowly than an average developing person.
Intellectual Developmental Disorder affects the individuals functioning in two main areas:
Intellectual Functioning
Describes a person’s ability to perform a wide range of mental activities including logical reasoning, verbal communication, and problem-solving.
Adaptive Behaviours
Skills necessary to carry out activities of daily living such as social, conceptual, and practical skills. This includes being able to take care of oneself, communicate effectively, and understand time, finances, and language.
Diagnosing Intellectual Developmental Disorder
Intellectual Developmental Disorder is measured through tests of intellectual functioning and adaptive behaviours. In intellectual functioning tests, scores at or below 70 indicate a significant limitation. As everyone is unique in their functioning, the individual subtests are primarily considered when determining intellectual functioning, rather than the overall score.
Adaptive behaviours are assessed across three domains of conceptual, social, and practical abilities. Information is obtained through testing of the individual as well as interviews with close family members, teachers, and friends.
Common Causes of Intellectual Developmental Disorder
Genetic conditions
Genes play a major role in a person’s cognitive development. Abnormal genes inherited from parents, genetic incompatibility, and other errors can cause impaired intellectual functioning.
