Question
My son doesn’t talk much and sometimes stumbles while walking, indicating intellectual disability. He is now five years old. What are some good treatment methods for intellectual disability in common cases?
Answer
Intellectual disability refers to the slow development or inability of the brain to fully expand as it should, which limits or causes difficulties in practicing and adapting to society, falling short of the average person. The condition of delayed expansion can be detected as early as infancy or childhood, unlike the sudden onset of general diseases or mental illnesses. Intellectual disability is a permanent defect; it is neither a disease nor a mental illness, and it cannot be cured by medication. However, individuals with intellectual disabilities can expand their limited potential through training, enhancing their reading skills and ability to live a normal life. If the cause can be discovered early on, there may be a possibility of treatment. Early intervention involves implementing individualized treatment and instruction during the pre-school period, utilizing comprehensive evaluation measures from medical, psychological, and educational perspectives.