Symptoms of Children with Intellectual Disability

Intellectual disability, currently referred to as intellectual or developmental disability in medical terminology, refers to significantly below-average intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior in individuals during their developmental period (usually before age 18), caused by impaired brain function. Its main symptoms include: 1. Learning difficulties: Slower acquisition of new knowledge and skills, with reading, writing, and calculation abilities below normal standards. 2. Delayed language development: Late speech onset, limited vocabulary, and poor comprehension and expressive abilities. 3. Social interaction difficulties: Challenges in interpersonal relationships and limited capacity to understand others' emotions and intentions. 4. Behavioral problems: Potential deficits in self-care abilities, such as slow acquisition of daily living skills like dressing and personal hygiene. 5. Emotional regulation difficulties: Inappropriate emotional responses and difficulty adapting to changes in environment. 6. Poor motor coordination: Delayed development in both fine and gross motor skills compared to same-age peers. 7. Cognitive limitations: Difficulties with logical thinking, problem-solving, and judgment. 8. Adaptive behavior deficits*: Independent living skills in daily life, school, and community settings fall below age-appropriate expectations. It should be noted that the severity of intellectual disability varies. Individuals with mild disability may experience difficulties only in specific domains, while those with severe disability may require comprehensive daily living support. If parents notice these symptoms in their child, they should seek professional medical evaluation as early as possible to enable timely intervention and support, thereby improving quality of life.