When children have intellectual disabilities, what should parents note?

Mental retardation is a form of brain development impairment. Children with this disorder have a slower ability to learn and absorb knowledge than their peers. However, if there is a timely intervention and education and treatment, children with mental retardation can still grow up normally and be as healthy as any other child.

As a parent, everyone wants their children to be healthy and develop normally. But if you unfortunately have mental retardation, what should you do? Instead of being depressed and anxious, you should equip more knowledge and ways to educate children with intellectual disabilities to overcome this problem with your baby.

How is intellectual retardation?

Mental retardation or intellectual disability is a condition in which a child's intelligence is below average and lacks the skills needed for daily activities. Children with mental retardation can still learn and practice new skills, but often more slowly than children of the same age. Usually, children with mental retardation will have limitations in two areas:

Intellectual function: This is shown through IQ. The average human IQ is usually 100. If a child's IQ is lower than 70, it is considered mentally retarded. A low IQ can lead to many problems such as a child having difficulty learning, not being able to make wise decisions and being very difficult to treat thoroughly.

Adaptive behavior: These are essential skills for everyday life, including 3 main skills: conceptual skills (language related, literacy, math, time and self-direction) , social skills (the ability to get along well with people around them), practical skills (ability to take care of themselves, work ...).

How to recognize children with intellectual delay

If there is a severe intellectual delay, a baby is usually diagnosed at birth or can be detected early in the first 2 years of life. However, with mild cases, you may not realize until the child reaches school age, a time when the challenges with learning have become apparent. Here are some of the most common symptoms in children with mental retardation:

Delay in developing fine motor skills such as sluggishness, crawling, sitting, standing, walking, fumbling hands and feet

Learning ability is slower than other children of the same age

There is no curiosity or concern for the surrounding environment

Having difficulty learning or absorbing new information despite being mentioned many times

New skills that have been taught cannot be exercised

Having difficulty solving problems or thinking logically

Having trouble remembering everything

Difficulty talking or communicating with others

It is not possible to perform everyday tasks such as getting dressed or going to the toilet without assistance

There are impulsive behaviors, easily provoked by small things, and possibly repetitive.

Why children have mental retardation?

There are many causes for children with mental retardation, but 60% of them have yet to identify:

Genetic

About 25-30% of research results show that mental retardation is due to genetic factors. Children whose parents have abnormalities in the brain or nervous system are at an increased risk of developing this disability. In addition, metabolic abnormalities that parents experience can also be the cause of mental retardation.

Problems during pregnancy

The first 3 months of pregnancy are very important because this is the baby's first stage of development in the mother's womb. For mothers who are addicted to alcohol, drugs, and smoke regularly, the risk of their child being retarded will also increase.

In addition, if the mother catches illnesses such as rubella virus infection, parasitic infection or taking some harmful drugs during pregnancy, it can affect fetal development.

High blood pressure can also disrupt blood flow and nutrition, affecting brain development.

Sickness and injuries

Children are easily affected by foreign factors. Therefore, at a certain age, children need to be vaccinated and prevent viral diseases such as measles, chickenpox, mumps, encephalitis ... If not properly prevented, children will be at risk. There are medical conditions that affect the intellectual development of the child such as cerebral palsy, Down syndrome or the child with traumatic brain injury due to accident can also lead to this condition.

Environment

Polluted living environment, heavy exposure to toxic chemicals such as pesticides, herbicides can also increase the risk of mental retardation in children. In addition, if the child lives in a situation of lack of love and violence, the child can also fall into this situation.

Brain development is also closely related to a child's diet. If the diet does not ensure adequate supply of essential nutrients for the normal functioning of the brain, the child's intelligence may be seriously affected.

What challenges do children with intellectual disabilities face?

Each child is a separate individual. Therefore, the challenges that children face will also be different. But in general, children with mental retardation will face the following problems:

Having difficulties in learning, communicating expressing their own desires, special teaching and training is required

Need parental support to solve basic daily living issues such as bathing, cleaning ...

Children cannot form personal relationships, so they often feel lonely and isolated

Children cannot live alone without the support of their parents and family

Can intellectual retardation be cured?

Mental retardation is not a disease and cannot be completely cured. However, if diagnosed early and intervened promptly, the child's condition can improve. However, the treatment and education of a child with a mental retardation requires parents to have great perseverance, patience, and emotional strength as the child needs to be given more attention to their muscle needs. copy.

In addition, you should also talk to the teacher about the child's situation so that an intervention program can be agreed. When teaching children with intellectual disabilities, the teaching method must be consistent because it is difficult for children to absorb new things. Without a specific plan, it is very difficult to improve.

Besides, you can also encourage your child to try new things in life. If your child did something wrong, never scold. If your child does well, give praise and encouragement. This will help motivate your child to perform it. Also, engage your child in activities such as singing, dancing or drawing to help improve his social skills.

In addition to external impact interventions, you should also improve and enhance your child's brain health from within by giving your child more brain products because the brain is the key organ responsible. about intellectual development. Currently on the market there are many products that help enhance the brain health of children, but the specific product for children with developmental delay Vuong Nao Khang (*) with Oriental Western medicine combined is a popular product. people feel secure to use

Vuong Nao Khang with a combination of precious medicinal herbs such as mandarin, phang ma, ginkgo biloba with Western medicine ingredients such as Coenzyme Q10, vitamin B6, folic acid ... has active blood, enhancing micronutrients and energy for the brain, enhancing the ability of learning, working, concentration and reflexes, and enhancing children's intelligence. Because the product is derived entirely from herbs, vitamins and minerals, when giving it to children, you do not need to worry about side effects.

Intervention and treatment for children with mental retardation is a long journey. In particular, the role of parents and family is always first priority because parents are the ones who love their children and be with the children the most. Many families persistently perform therapies under the guidance of doctors and have succeeded. If you have any questions, you can contact hotline 098 712 6085 for free advice and support.

(*) The product is not a medicine and has no effect to replace medicine.