Intellectual Disability often termed as mental retardation,is the condition in children, whose brain does not develop properly or function within the usual range. Intellectual disability can be; mild, moderate, severeor profound. Intellectual disability comprises of both low Intelligence Quotient (IQ) and difficulties adjusting to everyday life.

Intellectual disability can result in learning, speech, physical, and social disabilities. Severe cases of intellectual disability are identified at birth. However, milder or moderate forms of intellectual disability might not be identified until a child fails to meet the developmental goals. Almost all forms of mental retardation are diagnosed by the time a child reaches 18 years of age.

SYMPTOMS OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY:

Symptoms are based on the level of disability. They can include:

• Child with intellectual disability shows delayed developmental milestones such as sitting, crawling, walking, etc.
• Child with intellectual disability have memory problems, difficulty in learning to talk or trouble speaking clearly, inability to understand the consequences of actions and think logically, lack of curiosity, etc.
• Child with intellectually disability/mentally retardation will often have some of the following behavioral issues; aggression, withdrawal from social activities, dependency, attention-seeking behavior, depression during adolescence, lack of impulse control, self-injurious behavior, stubbornness, low self-esteem and low tolerance for frustration.

Physical signs of intellectual disability may include short stature and malformed facial features. However these physical signs are not always present.