Cognitive Disabilities

Question 1

What are the three criteria needed for an individual to qualify as having an intellectual disability?

Answer 1

1. The IQ is below 70-75
2. There are significant limitations in two or more adaptive areas (skills needed to live, work or play in the community, such as communication or self-care)
3. The condition manifests itself before the age of 18

Question 2

What are some characteristics of children with intellectual disabilities?

Answer 2

1. They may sit up, crawl, or walk later than other children
2. They may learn to talk later, or have trouble speaking
3. They may find it hard to remember things
4. They may have trouble understanding social rules
5. They may have trouble seeing the results of their actions
6. They may trouble solving problems

Question 3

What are some of the early signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder?

Answer 3

1. Not responding to their name by 12 months of age
2. Not pointing at objects by 14 months
3. Not playing “pretend” games by 18 months
4. Avoiding eye contact and wanting to be alone
5. Having trouble understanding or expressing feelings
6. Having delayed speech and language skills
7. Repeating words or phrases over and over
8. Giving unrelated answers to questions
9. Getting upset by minor changes
10. Flapping their hands, rocking their body or spinning in circles
11. Having obsessive interests
12. Having unusual reactions to the way things sound, smell, taste, look, feel

Question 4

How common is autism spectrum disorder?

Answer 4

Worldwide, 1 in 160 children has it, but it is higher in some countries, and it is increasing

Question 5

What is non-verbal learning disability?

Answer 5

It is similar to Asperger Syndrome, where people have normal intelligence and language development, but have trouble with social skills, sensory input, and making transitions. they are thought to describe the same kind of disorder but differ in severity

Question 6

Which is more severe, non-verbal learning disability, or Asperger Syndrome?

Answer 6

Asperger Syndrome is more severe

Question 7

What are some of the signs of Non-verbal Learning Disability (NLD)

Answer 7

1. Great vocabulary and verbal expression
2. Excellent memory skills
3. Attention to detail, but missing the big picture
4. Poor abstract reasoning
5. Concrete thinking
6. Physical awkwardness, poor coordination
7. Poor social skills
8. Trouble adjusting to changes
9. Anxiety, depression, low self-esteem

Question 8

What are some of the barriers for people with cognitive disabilities?

Answer 8

1. Complex sentences and unusual vocabulary
2. Complex page layouts and navigation
3. Long passages of text without images, graphs or illustrations to help explain content
4. Animated, blinking, or flickering images
5. Audio, with no option to pause or turn it off
6. Web browsers or media players with no option to turn off animation or audio
7. Complex visual designs
8. Social isolation discrimination