It is the desire of every parent to have a normal child both physically as well as mentally. Many parents are gripped with anxiety as they watch their young ones undergo growth and development. As a parent or guardian in Portsmouth, PA, it is important to note that things will not always turn out as planned. Indeed, there a good number of individuals with intellectual disabilities. Commonly, this problem will be identified before the age of eighteen.
The condition is also called mental retardation in some quarters but this term is slowly becoming obsolete. It may be seen in isolation but a number of people have it coexisting with physical abnormalities. This has been observed with conditions such as foetal alcohol syndrome and Down syndrome. Risk factors that have been identified may be biomedical, social, educational or behavioural. Infections associated with pregnancy and the perinatal period is particularly harmful.
Perhaps the biggest challenge that is faced by affected persons is the inability to learn things fast. This may be frustrating to an instructor especially in a school setting. When instructing this group of children, therefore, it is important that one is patient enough. If possible, the affected children should be taught in special schools where teachers are trained to handle them appropriately.
Some cases are very obvious from the onset especially to the parents or babysitter. Some, however, remain subtle and manifest later on as the child continues to develop into an adult. Commonly, an IQ test is used as a screening test to determine whether or not a child has mental limitation. For a diagnosis to be made, though, there is need to have a comprehensive review by a psychiatrist. There must be a limitation in adaptive behaviour and intellectual functioning.
Adaptive behaviour encompasses three main areas. There are conceptual skills, social skills and practical skills. Conceptual skills refer to those related to language and literacy, time, self direction and number concepts. Social skills revolve around interpersonal relationships. They are the skills that help us form friendships and to solve conflicts. Practical skills are necessary for daily living and personal living. The affected persons are put into different groups depending in the extent of limitation.
The different classifications used for groups of individuals affected help in creating appropriate management options. When assessing a child for the condition it is important to consider the immediate surroundings. The community in which a child grows up has a big influence on what kind of adult they will grow into. The child can only be said to have a limitation when compared to their immediate community and not any other.
Research has established that a number of things can be done so as to minimise the chances of having a child suffering from the disability. One area that ca be used for intervention is social support. Expectant women should get proper nutrition and care to provide a conducive environment for foetal growth. Genetic counselling of prospective couples is another strategy that has had tremendous success.
Intellectual disability is considered the commonest developmental disability. While it is a major challenge for the parents and the affected individual, near normal lives can be realised with proper training. Early identification and training are central to the realisation of this. It is important to point out that the limitation is not a disease; it cannot be transmitted from one person to another.
The condition is also called mental retardation in some quarters but this term is slowly becoming obsolete. It may be seen in isolation but a number of people have it coexisting with physical abnormalities. This has been observed with conditions such as foetal alcohol syndrome and Down syndrome. Risk factors that have been identified may be biomedical, social, educational or behavioural. Infections associated with pregnancy and the perinatal period is particularly harmful.
Perhaps the biggest challenge that is faced by affected persons is the inability to learn things fast. This may be frustrating to an instructor especially in a school setting. When instructing this group of children, therefore, it is important that one is patient enough. If possible, the affected children should be taught in special schools where teachers are trained to handle them appropriately.
Some cases are very obvious from the onset especially to the parents or babysitter. Some, however, remain subtle and manifest later on as the child continues to develop into an adult. Commonly, an IQ test is used as a screening test to determine whether or not a child has mental limitation. For a diagnosis to be made, though, there is need to have a comprehensive review by a psychiatrist. There must be a limitation in adaptive behaviour and intellectual functioning.
Adaptive behaviour encompasses three main areas. There are conceptual skills, social skills and practical skills. Conceptual skills refer to those related to language and literacy, time, self direction and number concepts. Social skills revolve around interpersonal relationships. They are the skills that help us form friendships and to solve conflicts. Practical skills are necessary for daily living and personal living. The affected persons are put into different groups depending in the extent of limitation.
The different classifications used for groups of individuals affected help in creating appropriate management options. When assessing a child for the condition it is important to consider the immediate surroundings. The community in which a child grows up has a big influence on what kind of adult they will grow into. The child can only be said to have a limitation when compared to their immediate community and not any other.
Research has established that a number of things can be done so as to minimise the chances of having a child suffering from the disability. One area that ca be used for intervention is social support. Expectant women should get proper nutrition and care to provide a conducive environment for foetal growth. Genetic counselling of prospective couples is another strategy that has had tremendous success.
Intellectual disability is considered the commonest developmental disability. While it is a major challenge for the parents and the affected individual, near normal lives can be realised with proper training. Early identification and training are central to the realisation of this. It is important to point out that the limitation is not a disease; it cannot be transmitted from one person to another.
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