Intellectual Disability
“Etiology: the assignment of a
cause or reason”
Top 3 most common etiologies used to explain intellectual disabilities:
Top 3 most common etiologies
Down Syndrome - there
are 3 different types, all caused by extra chromosomal material. There are 50
physical ‘signs’ that tells us someone has Down syndrome. Link discovered after
1959 when scientists identified that humans have 46 chromosomes. Aging egg
cells in mothers is a known risk, but other possible risks are exposure to
radiation and older fathers.
Fragile –X – most
common inherited cause of I.D., and second to Down syndrome. A single gene
disorder, mostly affecting males, where part of the DNA is too stretched out
and this weakness causes too many copies or repeats of a gene.
Fetal Alcohol
Syndrome – I.D. is only one of many impairments that a person suffers
as a result of the mother drinking alcohol during pregnancy. Oxygen that the
growing fetus needs is taken away by the body to break down alcohol levels. The
level of impairment can be mild to severe, and lifelong. 1 in 750 is born with
FAS.
Fewer than half of all people with intellectual disabilities have a known diagnosis.
Time
of onset
|
Type
of causes
|
Examples
/ effects
|
Prenatal
– causes that occur before birth
|
Genetic
Chromosomal
Toxins
– alcohol, drugs
Infections
/ diseases
|
Prader-Willi
Syndrome, Tay-Sachs,
Turner Syndrome,
Retts
Down Syndrome,
Fragile-X
Fetal
Alcohol Syndrome
Rubella,
HIV
|
Perinatal
– causes that occur during the birthing process
|
Trauma
Diseases
Oxygen
deprivation
Low
birth weight
Prematurity
Infections
|
Trauma to
the head during birth
syphilis
anoxia
|
Postnatal
– causes occur after birth
|
Poverty
Malnutrition
Abuse
Neglect
Environmental
toxins
Deprivation
Infections
/ diseases
Accidents
|
lead
poisoning
sensory,
lack of stimulation
meningitis;
encephalitis
head
injuries
|
There are many different risk factors associated with the different exceptionalities and many of those are preventable. Considering the fact that I have a few children with exceptionalities myself, I almost feel the need to defend myself: “I didn’t do it! Any of those behaviours that might have caused my kids’ differences don’t apply to our family”. Yet, on the other hand, I find myself at times becoming judgemental of some other families who also have kids with exceptionalies. Even if we know the risk factors that may cause disabilities, we don’t know if that’s the case for any given family. And even if we know that certain families have behaviours that negatively impact their kids’ health and/or learning, we still don’t know their background and what might have led to their particular lifestyle. After all, I haven't walked in their shoes. So rather than being judgemental, I should instead try to understand and encourage these kids and their families regardless of what their situation appears to be.
ReplyDeleteBravo Jantine! Your comment touches on the HEART of the matter! Understanding and appreciation for the unique story of each child and family is exactly the place from which our every day practice must start!
ReplyDelete