Intellectual disability

Intellectual disability is a condition that affects the brain and how a person learns and solves problems. It usually starts in childhood and impacts a person's ability to think, understand, and communicate at the same level as others their age. This condition involves challenges with learning, reasoning, and daily living skills. People with intellectual disability may need extra help with schoolwork and everyday tasks. The brain's development is affected, which influences how well someone can adapt to new situations or solve problems. It is a lifelong condition that varies in severity from mild to profound.

Intellectual disability is characterized by significant limitations in both intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior, originating before the age of 18. It results from various causes including genetic abnormalities (such as Fragile X syndrome or Down syndrome), prenatal exposures, perinatal complications, or environmental factors. The core pathology involves impaired cognitive development and deficits in conceptual, social, and practical skills. This condition is clinically significant because it affects educational achievement, social integration, and independent living. Diagnosis requires standardized intelligence testing and assessment of adaptive functioning. The severity is classified based on IQ scores and the level of support needed for daily activities.