Physical Development & Cognitive Impairments in Children

According to HealthyChildren.org, a service of the American Academy of Pediatrics, 2 to 3 percent of children are considered to have an intellectual disability or cognitive impairment, which means that their intelligence quotient falls below normal ranges. Depending on the severity of the impairment, children with below normal IQ scores may have trouble socializing, keeping up academically, communicating or performing activities of daily life, such as dressing and eating. Physical development may also be impacted depending on your child̵7;s specific disability or diagnosis.

  1. Understanding Cognitive Impairment

    • Cognitive impairments are generally diagnosed using IQ tests. According to HealthyChildren.org, the average IQ score is 100, and the normal IQ range is considered to be between 90 and 110. If a child's IQ score is below 70, he is considered to have some level of cognitive impairment, and the severity of the impairment depends on his overall score, according to an online summary of IQ ranges offered by the Siskin Children's Institute and adapted from the fourth edition of the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders."

    Physical Development

    • While physical developmental delays and cognitive impairments are not always related, many children with cognitive impairments also have poor motor skills, which, depending on severity, can impact everything from writing to dressing and eating. A 2013 study conducted by Dr. Vijaya Kancherla and associates and published in the "Disability and Health Journal" also identified a link between autism, hearing and vision impairments and intellectual disability.

    Recognizing the Signs

    • By the time a child reaches middle childhood -- defined by HealthyChildren.org as beginning at age 5 -- cognitive impairments are generally diagnosed. Sometimes, though, symptoms are not recognized until a child starts school. Worrisome signs that your 5-year-old has a developmental delay include an inability to focus on tasks for more than five minutes; unusual fear, anxiety or shyness; an inability to tell you about his day at school; unresponsiveness to social cues; an inability to tell his first or last name; and/or an inability to brush his teeth, wash hands or dress independently, according to an online summary from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention adapted from two separate pieces from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

    Outlook

    • While it is disheartening for parents to hear that their child has a cognitive impairment or related disorder, it is important to remember that all children have different skills and gifts, and children with cognitive impairments are able to learn and perform to the best of their individual abilities with assistance. If your child is diagnosed with a cognitive impairment, he is eligible to receive an individualized education program through his public school. The IEP is an individualized document that outlines special education and support programs that will be provided on account of his disability and specific needs, according to the National Center for Learning Disabilities. Depending on the severity of the impairment, available services include extra time on tests and assignments; repeated instruction; occupational and physical therapy; and assistance learning necessary life skills, including socialization, hygiene and safety.

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