Treatments are based on the type of intellectual disability that has been diagnosed and any comorbidities that exist. Approximately one in ten American children have a communication disorder, one of a group of neurodevelopmental disorders that affect speech and language development (Psychology Today, 2022).

Intellectual disabilities are diagnosed in the developmental years but continue to affect individuals across the life span. Intellectual disabilities affect about 1 percent of the world’s population.

intellectual disability — preferred term for intellectual functioning that falls below an IQ of 70 and starts before age eighteen. communication disorder — persistent difficulty with language and/or speech. intellectual developmental disorder — child is not meeting age-appropriate developmental guidelines for speech, language, socialization, motor skills, and behavior. learning disorder — occurs when a person has a difficult time in an area of learning, but it is not related to motivation or IQ level, emotional problems, cultural differences, or level of….