• Best functional abilities of under
and lower lifespan are common.
1 – 2 % of people with intellectual
• Cannot take care of themselves
When and how to
• Emotional expression may be
independently and may have
• Seizures, physical disabilities
Profound intellectual disability
little or no verbal language.
get help?
poorly understood.
If you are worried about your child’s
development seek help as soon as
IQ Less than 20
3 years old.
possible. Speak to a nurse or doctor at
your local health clinic to arrange for your child to be
disability
assessed or referred to a developmental clinic.
If your child is at preschool or school speak to your
UNDERSTANDING
child’s teacher or principal to develop a plan to support INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY
• Best functional abilities of a
• Learns basic self-help skills
Severe intellectual disability
your child’s learning and development.
but needs support in the
Introduction
with practise over time
• Speech difficulties and
• Noticeable delay in all
developmental areas.
Information adapted from Adnams C and Johns R (eds).
limited vocabulary.
3 – 4% of people with
intellectual disability
IQ between 20 – 34
Understanding Intellectual Disability (WCFID, 2016) Intellectual disability has been known by many different
3 – 5 year old.
names, including “mental handicap” and “mental
community.
With special thanks to Professor Sharon Kleintjes,
Vera Grover Chair of Intellectual Disability, retardation”. The name “intellectual disability” reminds
University of Cape Town and Department of Health, us that, under international and South African law,
Western Cape Government all people, including people with disabilities, have
a right to dignity and support for full participation
For more information please contact the Western Cape
• May learn to recognise and write a
in all aspects of life, including access to healthcare,
• Significant difficulty learning and
• Adults need different degrees of
Forum for Intellectual Disability:
education, employment and social support. It is very
Moderate intellectual disability
10% of people with intellectual
• Developmental milestones
important for young children with intellectual disability
support to live and work.
• Communicates in simple
021 510 4686
sentences, hold simple
to receive support as early as possible in life to assist
their development and participation in society to their
thinking logically.
IQ between 35 – 49
021 510 4687
full potential.
conversation.
few words.
delayed.
[email protected]
What is intellectual disability?
disability
www.wcfid.co.za Intellectual disability affects the development of a child,
starting before the age of 18 years, and continuing
throughout life. It affects the brain and can affect
85% of people with intellectual
• Can learn to read and master
www.facebook.com/wcfid
developmental milestones.
• Able to work but may need
• Can learn basic job-related
• Communicates reasonably
computer skills similar to
physical abilities too.
Mild intellectual disability
This pamphlet is also available in Afrikaans and isiXhosa
Intellectual disability results in children developing and
• Slow and delayed
regular support.
learning slower than typical children of their age in two
9 – 11 year old.
main areas:
IQ 50 – 69
disability
▪ Intellectual functioning: Their ability to think, learn,
skills.
well.
solve problems, reason and make sense of the world at
the same level as others of their age.
functioning
functioning
intellectual
▪ Adaptive functioning: Their ability to learn behaviours
Population
Cognitive
disability
Adaptive
Visit the National Lotteries Commission website to find out
about other projects supported by the NLC and skills which help them adapt to the needs of
with
www.nicsa.org.za everyday living on the same level as others of their age.
5 6 1
Important adaptive skills include self-help skills (for How is intellectual
example, feeding one’s self, going to the bathroom,
disability diagnosed?
getting dressed) and performing other daily household
It is very important The intellectual and adaptive
activities, communication skills (learning to talk,
understanding what is said and being able to answer), for young children with functioning of people with intellectual
social skills (knowing how to relate to friends, family intellectual disability to disability varies from person to person.
and others appropriately), as well as practical, Intellectual functioning is often assessed with
educational and work skills, eventually, together,
receive support as early
standardised tests called IQ tests which sets a
providing the skills needed to live semi-independently as possible in life to assist standard score of 100 (typically developed people will
or with support as an adult. their development and score between 85-115 while people with intellectual
disability will score below 70).
What causes intellectual disability? participation in society
Adaptive functioning assessments assess conceptual,
There are many causes of intellectual disability. The most to their full potential. social and practical skills needed to cope with everyday
common causes are: living.
Both types of assessments together assist in
1. Causes before the child
is born
identifying the kinds of support a child, adolescent
or adult with intellectual disability will need to best
• Genetic conditions and other support their development and participation to full
health conditions (e.g. Down 3. Causes during
childhood
potential. People with greater degrees of intellectual
syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, Prader-Willi disability will need higher levels of support than people
• Head or brain injuries (e.g. due to
syndrome, Rett syndrome, Turner syndrome ) with less disability. Generally there are four categories
car accidents)
• Problems in brain growth and development of of intellectual disability: mild intellectual disability;
• Childhood infections (e.g. meningitis) moderate intellectual disability; severe intellectual
the baby in the womb
• Seizure disorders (e.g. epilepsy) disability; profound intellectual disability.
• Exposure to poisons during pregnancy (e.g.
smoking/alcohol/drug use) • Poor nutrition (feeding problems or
malnutrition)
• Infections (e.g. rubella)
• Mother’s health during pregnancy (e.g. HIV/ People with
AIDs, poor nutrition) intellectual disability have
the right to access the same
4. Biomedical and
environmental causes services as the rest of the
2. Causes during the birth of
the child
• Exposure to toxins and chemicals population.
such as alcohol, lead and mercury
• Premature birth & under-
• Poverty (low birth weight and poor nutrition)
development
(e.g. immature heart/lungs) • Injury due to trauma & violence
• Birth injury or complications • Lack of environmental stimulation and
opportunities for learning skills
• Health complications after birth (e.g. jaundice)
2 3 4
