“People with special needs” refers to a wide range of human conditions in which people, for various reasons, have difficulties that create special needs for them. Exceptional children are one of these groups. Sadly, exceptional children are often poorly understood, and are sometimes even looked down upon. This article is about exceptional children or, more accurately, children with intellectual developmental delay.
Some people think a diagnosis of intellectual developmental delay is right only when a person’s intelligence is below normal, and that most of these children cannot learn or look after themselves. In fact, diagnosing intellectual developmental delay requires two features together: first, a below-average IQ; and second, difficulties in coping with everyday life, to the point that the person cannot learn the basic, essential tasks of a fairly self-sufficient life. Even so, most children with a lower IQ can learn a great deal. As adults they can build fairly independent lives, and, more importantly, they too can enjoy life like anyone else.
They too can enjoy life like anyone else.
In the past, parents of an exceptional child were advised to place their child in an institution for exceptional children. That practice is now outdated. Today it is recommended that these children stay with their families, so that they can take part in social life too. The law also guarantees that the costs of their education and the services they need are met by the state from public funds.
A child may also suffer from other physical and emotional difficulties at the same time. These children sometimes have problems with sight, hearing and speech that keep them from making good use even of the mental abilities they do have.
A comprehensive, thorough assessment of these children’s physical and psychological abilities and disabilities is one of the most essential steps, and should always be done. Since no single specialist can assess and treat every dimension of a human being alone, it is essential to involve different specialists and draw on their cooperation. Medical and neurological tests and hearing, vision and physical tests are also very useful, and necessary, in helping these children.
A low IQ does not mean all is lost. These people usually have positive qualities that specialists should identify and make the best of.
Sadly, one common consequence of intellectual developmental delay — especially milder forms, in which the child is bright enough to compare themselves with those around them and their peers and to pick up on others’ remarks and hints — is emotional disturbance. These children often try to keep up with their peers, but because they learn slowly, or cannot learn everything others learn, they feel they have failed, and become anxious, withdrawn and discouraged from social contact. Since they are less able to put their sadness and worry into words, their depression soon turns into other behavioural reactions, and they show new behavioural problems, for example with eating and sleeping. Naturally, the earlier intellectual developmental delay is diagnosed, the more can be done to help.
Ways of treatment:
Contrary to popular belief, medication is not the most effective treatment for the effects of intellectual disability; rehabilitation, behaviour therapy, educational support and family counselling should always be used as well.
So, in general:
1. Intellectual developmental delay has degrees, ranging from mild to very severe.
2. Intellectual developmental delay does not mean all is lost. These people usually have positive qualities that specialists should identify and make the best of.
3. Genetic causes, illness, injury, cultural causes and a deprived learning environment are among the factors that cause intellectual developmental delay.
4. Most people with intellectual developmental delay can learn the skills needed for a fairly independent life.
5. Some people with intellectual developmental delay can complete their schooling under specialist supervision.
6. Identifying other conditions that accompany intellectual developmental delay, such as problems with sight, hearing and speech, and treating or rehabilitating them, is essential to their mental health, and must be acted on.
7. Most children with near-normal IQ (mild intellectual developmental delay) suffer from emotional difficulties that need treatment.
8. Diagnosing and treating intellectual developmental delay and its effects requires many specialisms: psychology, education, rehabilitation and medicine.
9. The mother should be the mainstay of help for these children. So in every case of a child with special needs it is essential to support the mother, train her well, give her an accessible counselling service for when she needs new information or to rethink behaviours, and encourage her to keep going.
Dr Bahman Bahmani, PhD in counselling, associate professor and faculty member, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences. Adapted from the monthly Exceptional Education, issue 1
Related reading:
An introduction to rehabilitation counselling
An introduction to child and adolescent counselling
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