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Pediatric Intellectual Disability

Kids with intellectual disabilities learn or develop more slowly than other children their age.

At Children’s Health, we provide personalized care for kids with these conditions to help them live their best lives. We start with a thorough evaluation of your child, so we can understand exactly where they struggle and what they need. Then we connect you with experts who can support your child, including educational specialists, speech-language pathologists and psychiatrists.

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What is a Pediatric Intellectual Disability?

An intellectual disability is a condition that causes a child to learn or grow more slowly than other kids their age. It may take longer for a child with an intellectual disability to learn to speak, walk or perform daily tasks.

What are the signs and symptoms of a Pediatric Intellectual Disability?

An intellectual disability can be mild, moderate or severe. According to the National Institutes of Health, the signs and symptoms include:

Sitting up, crawling or walking later than other children of similar age
Learning to talk later or having difficulty speaking
Difficulty remembering information
Trouble understanding the rules of social behavior
Struggling to understand the outcomes of actions
Difficulty solving problems

How is a Pediatric Intellectual Disability diagnosed?

Our first goal is to investigate and better understand what is causing an intellectual disability. We might use the following tools for diagnosis:

Genetic testing: A simple blood test that shows us if an intellectual disability is caused by a genetic problem or trait.
Electroencephalogram (EEG): This test uses electrodes (tiny stainless-steel discs made) on the scalp to see if electrical activity in the brain might be causing intellectual disability.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): This is an imaging test that can help doctors see differences in the brain that might cause intellectual disability.
Psychometric tests: These tests include activities, assessments and observations to better understand your child’s skills, knowledge and personality traits.

What causes a Pediatric Intellectual Disability?

Scientists don’t know exactly what causes intellectual disabilities. Studies suggest many factors play a role, including:

Genetics
Environmental problems (such as exposure to lead paint)
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (if the child was exposed to drugs or alcohol in the womb)
If a woman experienced severe trauma (like a car accident) while she was pregnant

How is a Pediatric Intellectual Disability treated?

Unfortunately, there is no cure for an intellectual disability. But the experts at Children’s Health℠ offer a wide variety of tools and therapies that can help your child go on to a fulfilling life. Guided by your child’s pediatrician, the following specialists will work together to help your child and your family:

Neurodevelopmental delay (NDD) specialists: These specialists have deep experience in understanding how a child’s brain works and recommending strategies that can help kids manage intellectual disabilities.
Educational specialists: Depending on the severity of their intellectual disability, children may learn more slowly than other kids their age or need to be enrolled in special education classes. Our educational specialists can help identify your child’s learning challenges, and work with schools to be sure your child gets the support they need.
Speech-language pathologists: Some kids with intellectual disability have trouble speaking. Our speech-language pathologists work with these kids, one syllable at a time, to help them express what they’re thinking and feeling.
Psychiatrists: It’s common for a child with an intellectual disability to have a psychiatric disorder (such as depression or anxiety). A psychiatrist can provide talk therapy or medication to help manage these conditions and improve your child’s mental health.