Developmental Disability (also called mental retardation or intellectual disability)
What does it look like?
How common is it?
What causes it?
How long does it last?
What treatments are effective?
Developmental Disability
Children who don’t meet their milestones may be diagnosed with mental retardation. Other terms for their condition are developmental disability (common in Ontario, Canada), and learning disability or intellectual disability (terms used in the U.K.).
What does it look like?
Along with having reduced overall intellectual ability, children with this condition usually also experience reduced or delayed adaptive skills, as shown by their ability to learn how to walk, talk, become toilet trained, dress themselves, eat by themselves, and learn at school. Although the learning rate may be slower, most children can learn these things.
Children who have a developmental disability are classified according to the degree of their impairment.
Children with a mild condition have an IQ starting at around 50-55 up to approximately 70. They form the most common group (about 85%). They can usually attend school with some assistance, get a job, and live relatively independent lives, meaning they may need help from family or social agencies to manage money, learn how to cook and clean, and pay bills.
Those with a moderate disability have an IQ that ranges from 35-40 up to 50 or 55 and make up about 10% of those with developmental disability. It appears that training for unskilled or semiskilled jobs like simple janitorial work, shelf stacking in a supermarket, etc., are possible jobs for people with this level of disability. Being able to learn to read is also possible. Most people can live well in the community, either in group homes or with their families.
Children with a severe developmental disability make up about 3 to 4% of those with retardation. Many children in this group can learn to read a small number of simple words and can learn to count. Most will need close supervision at home or in group homes. Some of these children may have other medical conditions that require nursing care.
How common is it?
About 1 to 2% of developmentally disabled children are profoundly disabled and require life-long and extensive care in specialized community-based facilities. They often have genetic conditions that are responsible for their retardation and produce other physical disorders.
What causes it?
The most common causes of developmental disability include Fragile X syndrome, Down syndrome, fetal alcohol syndrome, lead or mercury poisoning, brain injury, or meningitis.
There is no known cause in about 40% of children with a developmental disability. Social causes of developmental disability are often related to the home environment, particularly one in which there is little care, or where the needs of the infant and young child for stimulation are not understood and acted on.
Many children with developmental disabilities have other medical conditions, as well, that may interfere with their independence. Some may have hearing or sight problems, or motor control problems, and may also have depression, anxiety, or aggression problems.
How long does it last?
Developmental disability is a life-long condition that is evident during childhood and adolescence.
What treatments are effective?
Developmental disability is treated according to the degree of the disability. Early intervention programs that stimulate learning and help improve acquisition of daily life skills are crucial for children with a developmental disability. The majority of children who are mildly developmentally disabled have the potential to lead fairly independent lives with some support.
See the Resources section for links to other web sites that may be
helpful.
