Intellectual Disability

What Is Intellectual Disability?

Intellectual disability refers to the problems that are associated with mental capabilities that impact on the functioning of humans in two of the fundamental areas such as:

• Intellectual functioning includes judgment, learning, and problem-solving.
• Adaptive functioning refers to daily life activities including independent living and the ability to communicate.

Generally, the deficit in intellectual and adaptive functioning usually starts in the early stage of the developmental stage. Intellectual disability lays an adverse impact on 1% of the population. About 85% of the population in America suffers from a mild intellectual illness. This type of illness is more common in males as compared to females.

People having problems in adaptive and intellectual functioning suffer from intellectual disorders. The intelligence level in an individual is generally evaluated by psychometric tests, comprehensive tests, individually administered and psychometrically valid tests, and other sound tests that measure intellectual functioning. 

A particular score of a full-scale IQ test is no longer needed for the diagnosis of the illness. However, standardized testing is required to diagnose the exact condition of an individual. 

How to Win SSD Benefits for Intellectual Disability?

Approximately 14% of people suffering from intellectual illness are that apply for intellectual disabilities getting the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. 

Applying for Disability Benefits may be challenging and you have to meet the requirements specified in Section 12.05 by the Social Security Administration (SSA) in the blue book. As per the listing, you have to meet one of the following requirements:

• Inability to follow instructions
• A full-scale IQ of 59 or less
• A full-scale IQ of 60 and 70 along with physical or mental impairment
• A full-scale IQ of 60 and 70 along with an outcome of any two specified as follows:
• Marked difficulties in performing daily activities
• Marked limitations in maintaining social functioning 
• Marked difficulty in focusing, pace, persistence.
• Recurring episodes of decompensation that last for more time.

Types of Intellectual Disabilities

Four types of intellectual disorders depend on the IQ level of a child and other social adjustment issues.

Mild Intellectual disorder: People who have mild ID show symptoms including 

• Taking more time to talk
• Being independent when they get older in self-care
• Issues in reading and writing
• Displaying immaturity socially
• Having an IQ level from 50 to 69. 

Moderate Intellectual disorder: Moderate Intellectual disorder has symptoms including 

• Slow in using language
• Difficulties in communicating
• Unable to stay isolated
• Have an IQ level from 35 to 49.

Severe Intellectual disorder: People who have mild ID show symptoms including 

• Motor impairment
• Abnormal development of a nervous system
• Having an IQ level between the range of 20 to 34.

Profound Intellectual disorder: Profound Intellectual disorder has symptoms including 

• Failure to follow instructions
• Immobility
• Incontinence
• Able to interact with basic non-verbal communication, 
• Requiring constant help and supervision
• Having an IQ level of less than 20.

Other Intellectual disorders: People having this type of disability are generally physically impaired, have some physical disability, or have hearing problems. These problems might pose a risk in preventing a doctor from diagnosing a problem in a child and conducting screen tests.

How Is An Intellectual Disorder Diagnosed?

When an individual gets an IQ score of approximately 70 to 75 then it is an indication that there exists a significant limitation in the functioning of the intellect of that person. Although, an IQ score is often interpreted by the difficulties you have suffered from along with your mental capabilities. 

However, the scores of the tests can also vary. This is because the complete scale IQ score may not precisely reflect the intellectual functioning of an individual. Therefore, clinical judgments and opinions are required in the interpretation of the outcome of the IQ tests.

The fundamental areas that are considered in adaptive functioning are as follows:

• Conceptual: It defines the memory, knowledge, reading, writing, reading skills you possess.
• Social: It defines the social judgment, communication capabilities, skills to follow an instruction, and how you are keeping friendships.
• Practical: Referring  to independence in the areas including job responsibilities, recreation, organizing work tasks, managing school, and the capability to handle and manage money. 

Generally, adaptive functioning is assessed by the measures that you will take and interactions with teachers, caregivers, and other family members. There can be three types of intellectual illness such as mild, moderate, and severe. 

Some of the symptoms that can be seen by the age of two are delays in motor skills or delay in language development. Moreover, the disorder is not identified when a child begins to go to school and faces issues in dealing with academics. 

What Are The Causes Of Intellectual Disability?

Intellectual disability is a type of disability in which you tend to experience constraints in two fundamental areas such as intellectual functioning and adaptive functioning.

There are various causes of intellectual illness discussed as follows:

• Genetic syndrome (Down syndrome, fragile X syndrome)
• The disability develops various illnesses such as meningitis, measles, or whooping cough.
• Development of intellectual disability in children such as head trauma
• When you have been exposed to poisonous chemicals such as lead or mercury
• Brain malformation
• Maternal disease
• Delivery related events
• Environmental influences due to drugs, alcohol, or other toxic substances
• Infection during pregnancy
• Birth problems (Not getting enough oxygen)

All these factors contribute to the rise of Intellectual disabilities in people.

Common Symptoms of Intellectual Disability

Some of the most common symptoms of intellectual disorder based on a child level of disability are as follows:

• Problems in talking or speaking
• Problems in meeting intellectual milestones
• Problems in sitting, walking, crawling 
• Memory issues
• Unable to understand the consequences that may arise out of their actions
• Lacking the ability to think logically
• Inconsistent behavior
• No curiosity
• Learning Disability
• IQ level is below 70
• Not able to live an independent life

A child suffering from the intellectual disorder may show different behavior issues such as 

• dependency, 
• aggression, 
• inability to interact with other people, 
• want to seek attention, 
• depression during teen years and adolescence, 
• passivity, 
• self-injury tendency, 
• low self-esteem, 
• low tolerance power, 
• psychotic disorders, 
• difficulty in focusing. 

Some of the people might also face problems such as short stature, facial abnormalities, and may have some particular physical characteristics.

As the process of getting Intellectual disability benefits is complicated and time-consuming, assistance from a legal professional is often necessary. . Hiring a Disability Lawyers in Kentucky can be helpful who has experience in dealing l with disability cases. This will help you win your claim even if your initial request gets denied. In some cases, it can be beneficial to file an appeal and help to get you the maximum benefits that you deserve.