Intellectual disability

Question 1

What has impacted our understanding of Intellectual Disability?

Answer 1

• The understanding and treatment of ID in SA remains poor even post-apartheid.
• Beyond other factors, the knowledge gap has been further complicated by various contextual and cultural explanations and perceptions regarding ID.

Question 2

What are 5 important points about the background of ID?

Answer 2

1. The terminology has changed over years.
2. The term “intellectual disability” has replaced the term “mental retardation” nationwide. This was for policy, administrative and legislative purposes. Mainly began in developed countries, and is now increasing in LMICs.
3. Advocates for individuals with intellectual disability have rightfully asserted that the term “mental retardation” has negative connotations, has become offensive to many people, and often results in misunderstandings about the nature of the disorder and those who have it.
4. The question as to whether IDs are a disability or a health condition remained a hotly debated one, with two co-existing approaches used as a basis for new conceptualizations of this entity. Based on a health condition perspective, ID was coded as a disorder in ICD. At the same time, impairments in intellectual functions that are central components of IDs can be classified within WHO’s ICF and is therefore seen as part of a disability.
5. Initially, ID was only referred to as impairments of intellectual/cognitive functioning. Then around early 1950s, the age-appropriate everyday functioning was considered as part of the limitation in ID were included

Question 3

What is the percentage of people living with ID worldwide, and where do most of them live?

Answer 3

• Persons living with ID comprise an estimated 1-2% of the world’s population.
• Most of the live in LMICs, and are among the most vulnerable and marginalised.

Question 4

How have the number of people diagnosed with ID changed over the years?

Answer 4

• A review of the global burden of disease estimated that persons with ID worldwide increased from 118.2 million in 1990 to 154 million in 2013.
• Around 104.9 million have borderline and mild ID
• About 49.1 million have moderate to profound ID.

Question 5

What percentage of Africa’s population has an ID?

Answer 5

• According to the WHO people with an ID consist of 40% of the world’s population, including 10-15% of school aged children.

Question 6

What hinders accurate collection and interpretation of epidemiological ID data in SA?

Answer 6

• It is hindered by lack of consensus on definitions, terminology, varied data collection methods, cultural, and contextual differences.

Question 7

What is the comparison between ID prevalence in South and HICs?

Answer 7

• ID prevalence in HICs is between 2% and 3%.
• In South Africa it is 3.6%

Question 8

What gender group is more likely to be diagnosed with ID in SA?

Answer 8

Males.

Question 9

What is Intellectual Disability?

Answer 9

Intellectual disability is characterised by significant limitations both in intellectual functioning and in adaptive behaviour as expressed in conceptual, social, and practical adaptive skills. This disability originates before age 18.

Question 10

What is essential to understanding ID?

Answer 10

• ID is a multidimensional state of human functioning.
• Understanding the construct of disability and the multidimensionality of human functioning is essential to not only explaining the phenomenon, but also in providing a framework to understand and explain its etiology.