Maxim Poon Wong - What is Intellectual Disability

1. Maxim Poon Wong - What is Intellectual Disability?

2. Intellectual Disability? • According to Maxim Poon Wong, The term intellectual disability refers to problems with general mental ability affecting both of the following areas: • The ability to learn, solve problems and make judgments. • Communication and daily living activities (adaptive functioning).

3. Moreover, the developmental period is marked by intellectual and adaptive deficits. A man is more likely than a woman to be diagnosed with an intellectual disability. About 1% of the population is affected by intellectual disability, 85% of which is mild.

4. Diagnosing Intellectual Disability • A person with an intellectual disability has difficulty both intellectually and adaptively. • It is imperative to measure intellectual functioning with appropriately administered, comprehensive, culturally appropriate, and psychometrically sound tests. Although standardized testing is no longer required for diagnosis, a full-scale IQ test score of 70 to 75 indicates that there is a significant restriction in intellectual ability. • It is important to interpret IQ scores in light of the individual's difficulties with general cognitive abilities. Moreover, scores on subtests can vary considerably so the full-scale IQ score may not be a reliable indicator of overall intellectual functioning. Therefore, clinical judgment is needed in interpreting IQ test results.

5. Causes • Intellectual disability is the result of a variety of causes. It may develop as a result of a genetic syndrome, such as Down syndrome or Fragile X syndrome. It may occur following an illness, such as meningitis, whooping cough, or measles. It may occur after sustaining head trauma as a child, or as the result of exposure to toxins like mercury or lead. • The other possible causes of intellectual disability include brain malformations, maternal diseases, and environmental factors (alcohol, drugs, and other toxins). There can also be labor-and-delivery-related events, infection during pregnancy, and problems with breathing at birth, for example.

6. Treatment It is common for people with intellectual disabilities to experience underlying medical or genetic conditions, co-occurring conditions, and other conditions that add to the complexity of their lives. According to Maxim Poon Wong, early and ongoing intervention may enable people with intellectual disabilities to thrive throughout their lifetime. Upon a diagnosis, people with intellectual disabilities get help focusing on their strengths and needs, as well as the support they need to function at home, in school/work, and their communities.