Early intervention and personalized care can help children with intellectual disabilities reach their fullest potential.
Remarkable Care for Kids
- Expert psychological evaluation and care: Child psychologists at Rush are specially trained in evaluating and caring for children and adolescents with a wide range of developmental conditions, including intellectual disability.
- Treatment for emotional and behavioral conditions: A developmental pediatrician at Rush can identify and treat emotional or behavioral conditions that are often associated with intellectual disability.
- Genetic testing and counseling: The Section of Genetics at Rush provides genetic counseling, testing and support for families facing intellectual disabilities.
- Fragile X syndrome clinic: Experts at Rush offer personalized care and evaluation of children with fragile X syndrome who have intellectual disabilities. The Fragile X Syndrome Clinic at Rush is the only fragile X clinic in Chicago.
What is an intellectual disability?
An intellectual disability appears in childhood, before your child is 18 years old. For many children, the cause of intellectual disability is unknown. However,some of the most common causes of intellectual disability include the following:
- Birth defects
- Down syndrome
- Fragile X syndrome
- Genetic conditions
The earlier you address your child’s intellectual disability, the better. Early intervention programs can help children learn skills that help them grow and function in daily life.
Meet our intellectual disability in children providers
Symptoms of intellectual disability
Talk to your pediatrician if your child has any of these common symptoms of intellectual disability:
- Developmental delays: Not sitting, walking or talking at the same time as other children their age
- Learning disabilities: Trouble learning new skills, remembering things and solving problems
- Social and behavioral challenges: Difficulty understanding rules and recognizing the results of their actions
Having these symptoms does not mean your child has an intellectual disability. Other conditions have similar symptoms. Pediatric psychologists at Rush can help evaluate your child for intellectual disabilities and make recommendations for treatments that could help.
Care for intellectual disability at Rush
Depending on the cause of your child’s intellectual disability, Rush offers the following care:
- Evaluation: Psychologists at Rush perform psychometric tests that evaluate your child’s personality and aptitude.
- Expert referral: Your child’s doctor at Rush can refer your child to providers who offer a wide range of services and therapies that can help your child thrive, including behavioral counseling, speech therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy.
- Specialized care: Experts at Rush are leaders in treatment and research of the most common causes of intellectual disability, including the following:
- Fragile X syndrome: The Fragile X Clinic at Rush offers comprehensive care, family counseling and diagnosis of fragile X syndrome.
- Down syndrome: Physicians from more than 30 specialties at Rush University Children’s Hospital collaborate to provide your child with comprehensive care that addresses the complexities of Down syndrome.
- Autism: The Autism Assessment, Research, Treatment and Services (AARTS) Center at Rush provides comprehensive care and support to help improve your child’s development with autism and related disorders, including Rett syndrome.