Intellectual and developmental disabilities (mental retardation) refers to a range of cognitive, social/ emotional, adaptive and motor delays or impairments. These deficits often impact on the child’s ability to communicate, learn, interpret and respond to social cues. The child may also exhibit challenging behaviour (self-injury, aggression, destruction) associated with frustration from the latter deficits.

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If the child presents any of the following behaviours, consider this a red flag:

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Cognitive Concerns

► Significant attention difficulties

► Poor concentration, poorly focused and organized

► Is extremely restless and distractible

► Memory impairments

► Poor problem solving (planning, organizing and initiating tasks)

► Slow to process verbal information/slow to understand what is said

► Slow to process visual and non-verbal information (e.g., gestures, signs, social cues)

► Difficulty learning new tasks

► Has difficulty following directions and/or routines

► Poorly developed basic concepts (e.g., colours, shapes, body parts)

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Social/Emotional/ Behavioural Concerns

► Poorly developed play skills (for his age)

► Awkward or absent greeting of others

► Has very few friends/alienates other children

► May be withdrawn/passive due to inability to communicate

► Has trouble interacting appropriately with peers

► Narrow range of interests that he engages in

► Frequent tantrums, aggression, destruction or self-injury due to frustration, lack of ability to communicate, interruption/change in routine, not getting what he wants, mind gets stuck on one issue

► May present with oppositional/defiant behaviour due to inability to process information - does not know what is expected of him

► Behaviour affecting ability to learn new things

► Socially inappropriate behaviour (e.g., taking another child’s food, stripping in public)

► Poor/lack of ability to empathize (e.g., if another child is crying)

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Adaptive Concerns

► Has delays in two or more age-appropriate life skills domains (e.g., toileting, dressing, feeding, face and hand washing)

► Shows no age-appropriate awareness of danger

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Communications Concerns

► Poor expressive communication (language, gestures, signs)

► Poor comprehension of language (words, gestures, pictures)

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Physical Concerns

► Poorly developed fine motor skills (e.g., holding a pencil, picking up beads)

► Poorly developed gross motor skills (e.g., awkward gait, poor coordination, poor balance)

► Seizures or frequent periods of blank staring

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