Intellectual Disability

Intellectua Disability

Email this page to a friend Print Facebook Twitter Intellectual disability is a condition diagnosed before age 18 that includes below-average intellectual function and a lack of skills necessary for daily living.

In the past, the term mental retardation was used to describe this condition. This term is no longer used.

Causes Intellectual disability affects about 1% to 3% of the population. There are many causes of intellectual disability, but doctors find a specific reason in only 25% of cases.

Risk factors are related to the causes. Causes of intellectual disability can include:

• Infections (present at birth or occurring after birth) • Chromosomal abnormalities (such as Down syndrome) • Environmental • Metabolic (such as hyperbilirubinemia, or very high bilirubin levels in babies) • Nutritional (such as malnutrition) • Toxic (intrauterine exposure to alcohol, cocaine, amphetamines, and other drugs) •Trauma (before and after birth) • Unexplained (doctors do not know the reason for the person's intellectual disability)