A person with an intellectual disability has difficulty:
Intellectual disabilities can be mild, moderate, or severe. Someone’s personality, how they handle events, and other health care issues can affect how much support a person needs for daily living. Intellectual disability is thought to affect about 1 - 3% of the population. Of those affected, most have a mild intellectual disability.
The most common syndromes associated with intellectual disabilities are Autism, Down syndrome, Fragile X Syndrome, and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).
A specialist will observe the child’s skills and compare them to other children of the same age. They may watch how well the child can feed or dress himself or herself, how well the child communicates with and understand others, and how the child interacts with others.
"Developmental disabilities" include other disabilities that start in childhood. About 15% of children ages 3 through 17 have one or more developmental disabilities.
Developmental disabilities can affect reasoning and thinking, physical skills, or both. These disabilities appear before age 22 and are likely to be lifelong. Some developmental disabilities are physical issues, such as Cerebral Palsy or Epilepsy. Some individuals may have a condition that includes a physical and intellectual disability.
Intellectual Developmental Disability (I/DD) Services Array Brochure: has more information on the services provided for individuals with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities.
