72.Compareanddiscussthepossibleknowncausesofintellectualdisabilities.
ANSWER: Intellectualdisabilitiesresultfrommultiplecauses,someknown,manyunknown(The
ARC,2011a).Possibleknowncausesofintellectualdisabilitiesincludegenetic
conditions,problemsduringpregnancy,problemsatbirth,problemsafterbirth,and
poverty-relateddeprivation.Geneticconditionsmayresultfromgenesinheritedfrom
parents,errorswhengenescombine,orfromexternalfactors,suchasinfectionsduring
pregnancyoroverexposuretoX-rays.Excessivematernaluseofalcoholordrugsor
exposuretocertainenvironmentalhazards,suchasX-raysorinsecticides,candamage
thechild.Temporaryoxygendeprivation,abnormallaboranddelivery,neonatalseizures,
andheadtraumaatbirthareexamplesofthetypesofproblemsduringbirththatcan
occur.Notvaccinatingagainstchildhooddiseasesandinjuriescanalsocausebrain
damage.Childrenlivinginpovertyareathigherriskformalnutrition,childhooddiseases,
andexposuretoenvironmentalhealthhazards,andoftenreceiveinadequatehealthcare.
Eachofthesefactorsincreasestheriskofintellectualdisability.
Socioculturalcausesmaybeattributedtobothsocioculturalandgeneticfactors.
Biomedicalcausesarebiologicalprocessessuchasgeneticdisordersornutrition.These
includechromosomalabnormalities,metabolismandnutrition,andpostnatalbrain
disease.Behavioralcauses,suchasdangerousactivitiesormaternalsubstanceabuse,
cancauseintellectualandotherdisabilities.Examplesofbehavioralcausesarematernal
infectionorintoxication,andtraumasorphysicalaccidents.Lastlyunknownprenatal
influencessuchasanencephalyorhydrocephaluscanresultinseveredisorders.
REFERENCES: Bloom’s:Understanding
LEARNINGOBJECTIVES:HESC.HARD.17.09.04-Listthecausesandriskfactorsassociatedwithintellectual