A condition which may show in the beginning of childhood as limitation in the ability to learn and function. This is also referred to as an intellectual disability. ​The DSM-IV subdivides individuals with intellectual disability into degrees of severity based on their level of impairment (mild, moderate, severe, or profound) in intellectual functioning, 

What are the signs of cognitive impairment?

• About 5% of the population have cognitive deficits, and most of these individuals fall into the mild range deficit category.

• Sometimes, children with attention deficits, learning disabilities, communication disorders, or pervasive developmental disorders may be thought to have intellectual disability.

• To make a correct diagnosis, all children with a pattern of delayed or abnormal development or learning should undergo comprehensive psychoeducational testing.

 

What Causes Cognitive Deficits?

 

Cognitive deficits do not have an identifiable cause in many people. However, with comprehensive evaluation, the specific cause of about a majority of cases of severe deficits can be identified.

The causes of cognitive disabilities are generally divided into prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal factors.

• Prenatal causes (those that occur before birth) may include genetic abnormalities, infections, exposures to substances that cause birth defects, and central nervous system malformations Down syndrome and fragile X syndrome are among the most common genetic causes of intellectual disability.

• Perinatal causes (occurring around the time of birth) may include fetal malnutrition, prematurity, and decreased oxygen to the brain.

• Postnatal or acquired causes (after the newborn period) may include trauma (accidental and nonaccidental), suffocation, infections, toxic ingestions, brain damage, central nervous system tumors or cancer, degenerative disorders, and environmental influences such as psychosocial deprivation, severe malnutrition.

 

What Are Some Examples of Symptoms of Cognitive Deficits?

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• Early detection in global developmental delay (delays in all areas of development, including language, walking, self-care skills, and/or imitative play). Children with more severe impairments or those with obvious dysmorphic features are often identified in the first year of life.

• In other instances, the child might first demonstrate behavioral issues (such as difficulty toilet training), that may ultimately come to the attention of a medical professional and be found to be related to delays in development.

• With less significant impairments, the first sign of a cognitive deficit might be difficulties in school. For example, the child might have trouble learning to read and do math.

Developmental delays

A child should be evaluated as soon as a developmental delay is suspected. Early evaluations can detect developmental delays and lead to the provision of intervention services. These services are designed to assist children in building skills during this time of greatest brain development. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) mandates that all children have the right to an appropriate education regardless of any disabilities they might have.

Thus, for children aged birth to three years of age with a developmental delay, each state has a program that evaluates and treats them for free. For children older than three years of age, the individual school districts are responsible for the child's evaluation and treatment. Children may be evaluated in the following skill areas:

• Social-emotional

• Adaptive (ability to adjust to changes)

• Cognitive (awareness and judgment)

• Language

• Gross motor (control of large movements)

• Fine motor (control of small movements)

Behavioral issues

Both children and adults with cognitive deficits have a higher risk of both psychiatric disorders and behavioral problems Treatment may be necessary for behavioral issues. For example, a child might have problems with the following:

• Attention

• Sleep

• Aggression

• Self-harming behaviors

What Is the Prognosis for Cognitive Deficits?

 

• The prognosis or outlook for a child with cognitive disabilities is highly individual and is influenced by a variety of psychological, medical, environmental, and cultural factors.

• Intellectual disability is not necessarily a life-long disorder. Some children with cognitive disabilities revealed by academic difficulties may, with appropriate services and interventions, develop adequate adaptive skills in other areas of functioning and no longer demonstrate the level of impairment required for a diagnosis of intellectual disability when they are an adult. At Speech Therapy and Beyond, we can provide individualized intervention plans that will include compensatory strategies to maintain a healthy functional daily routine.