Intellectual impairments refer to life-long limitations of the cognitive and intellectual abilities of a person that often results in the person requiring Intellectual Impairments supervision in conducting activities of daily living.
This impairment usually affects the ability to:
- solve problems,
- remember,
- learn new information and skills, including social skills.
Intellectual impairment often has its onset in childhood and is linked to issues in brain development prior to or at birth. They are also lifelong conditions and cannot be treated with medication.
There are various degrees of intellectual impairments: mild, moderate, severe and profound.
Environmental factors, particularly things and people that surrounds a person with intellectual impairment, can impact his/her development, particularly during childhood.
DEGREES OF INTELLECTUAL IMPAIRMENTS
The average IQ is 100, and to have some sort of intellectual impairment, a person must score below 70. However, in Africa and other parts of the world, many intellectual impairments go undiagnosed. In the absence of an IQ test, there are other characteristics to look out for:
Mild intellectual impairment: people with mild intellectual impairments usually have an IQ between 50 and 69. They may take longer than other people in a similar age range to speak and understand, but they can communicate. They also have minimal or no difficulties in performing activities of daily living (washing, dressing, eating, etc.) by themselves.
Moderate intellectual impairment: people with moderate intellectual impairments usually have an IQ between 35 and 49. They have trouble communicating, understanding and learning when compared to others in their same age range. They also face have some difficulties in performing activities of daily living (washing, dressing, eating, etc.) by themselves and may require assistance even as adults.
Severe intellectual impairment: people with severe intellectual impairments usually have an IQ between 20 and 34. They often face difficulties in movement in addition to challenges communicating, understanding and learning when compared to others in their same age range. They often face a lot of difficulties in performing activities of daily living (washing, dressing, eating, etc.) by themselves and will require assistance even as adults.
Profound intellectual impairment: people with profound intellectual impairments usually have an IQ under 20. They are often unable to move independently, communicate, understand and learning when compared to others in their same age range. They often are unable to perform activities of daily living (washing, dressing, eating, etc.) by themselves and will require lifelong assistance.