Intellectual developmental disorder, or IDD, is a catch-all term for a range of different conditions that involve limitations to cognitive functioning (the capacity to think and learn) and adaptive skills (the ability to function in daily life). According to the CDC, about 2 percent of U.S. children ages 3–17 have been diagnosed with IDD, and some 85 percent of them have mild impairments. Some people are born with it — for example, kids with Down syndrome or fetal alcohol syndrome, and some kids with autism. Others develop IDD when they are older, from a brain injury or an illness such as epilepsy or meningitis.

This week we are talking about IDD and mental health. Children with IDD have a higher incidence of mental health problems than other kids — most commonly anxiety or depression — but they are less likely to be diagnosed and treated for them. Behavior that is a symptom of emotional distress is often misattributed to their disability. When a child pushes or hits, it might not be recognized as a sign of anxiety, depression, ADHD, or sensory processing issues. And kids with IDD can have social challenges — they might be less mature than other kids their age, and they can get bullied. As for all kids, learning coping skills and emotion regulation can help, as can cognitive behavioral therapy.

— Michelle Shih, Managing Editor | ✉