A child diagnosed with intellectual disability (ID) is under the supervision of Nurse Tasha. The nurse is aware that the signs and symptoms of mild ID include which of the following?
A. Few communication skills
B. Lateness in walking
C. Mental age of a toddler
D. Noticeable developmental delays
Correct Answer: B. Lateness in walking
Mild intellectual disability is minimally noticeable in young children, with one of the signs being a delay in achieving developmental milestones, such as walking at a later stage. Individuals with an intellectual disability have neurodevelopmental deficits characterized by limitations in intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior. These disabilities originate and manifest before the age of 18 and can be associated with a considerable number of related and co-occurring problems.
Option A: Severe intellectual disability is marked by little or no communication skills. Intellectual functioning is generally called intelligence and includes a wide range of mental activities such as the ability of logical reasoning and practical intelligence (problem-solving), ability in learning, verbal skills, and so on.
Option C: Severe intellectual disability is marked by the mental age of a toddler. Concerning clinical history, symptoms of intellectual disability usually begin during childhood or adolescence. Moreover, delays in language or motor skills may be observed by age two. Nevertheless, a significant number of children with mild levels of intellectual disability may not get identified until school age.
Option D: Children with moderate intellectual disability have noticeable developmental delays. All skills are learned throughout development and performed in response to common problems and simple/complex tasks as well as expectations from our community and society. Obviously, these behavioral responses become progressively more complex with age.