Question
How should parents respond when a 12-year-old child is diagnosed with intellectual disability?
Answer
Intellectual disability may originate from congenital developmental disorders and, as children grow older, treatment options are limited. Since the critical period of intellectual development has passed, the primary approach is to alleviate symptoms through active education and training. It is recommended that parents collaborate with doctors to conduct comprehensive examinations, including language development assessments, intelligence tests, hearing tests, dental examinations, MRI of the brain, and electroencephalogram (EEG) tests, to determine the diagnosis and potential causes. Based on the examination results, doctors may suggest appropriate rehabilitation interventions. Treatment methods for intellectual disability are diverse, but the selection of an appropriate treatment plan should be tailored to the specific condition of the patient. Therefore, seeking timely medical attention and professional diagnosis is crucial.