Question
My son is twelve years old and in third grade. He often falls asleep in class and has no interest in reading or doing homework. His development is behind his peers; he didn’t start speaking until he was five years old, and he walked late as well. His expressive abilities are inadequate. When others hit him, he never retaliates. He seems not to be intellectually disabled on the surface, but he has some characteristics of intellectual disability. He enjoys playing with computers, is shorter than his peers, and in class, he either sleeps or chats with others, showing signs of intellectual impairment.
Answer
Based on your description, your child shows signs of delayed intellectual development but has not reached the severe level of intellectual disability. Due to his slower rate of intellectual development, he may struggle to keep up with the pace in school, leading to a lack of interest in learning and a preference for playing games, which are simpler. At this point, parents should provide more assistance to boost his intellectual abilities so that he can catch up with his peers and develop an interest in learning.