Year: 2016 | Month: April | Volume 7 | Issue 1
Intellectual Disability: definition, classification, causes and characteristics
Abstract:
The term intellectual disability refers to the level of cognitive functioning that is demonstrated by particular children. It is the circumstance in which a children’s cognitive functioning is impeded to the point of causing a significant disability in receiving information from his or her environment, then effectively processing, problem solving and adapting to this information. This paper provides an overview of children with intellectual disability incorporating definition, causes and classification for conceptual understanding. Intellectual disability is characterized by significant limitations in intellectual functioning and adaptive behaviour, the latter expressed as conceptual, social and practical adaptive skills. An intellectual disability is defined as an IQ below 70 and deficits in adaptive behaviour or daily living skills (eating, dressing, communication, participate in group activity). People with intellectual disability learn slowly and have difficulty with abstract concepts. This paper also throws some light on the characteristics of people with intellectual disabilities.
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