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Neurodevelopmental

Intellectual disability

Limitations in intellectual functioning (thinking, planning, learning) and adaptation to daily life, which appear during development. Its degree (mild, moderate, severe or profound) is mainly defined by the supports the person needs.

Common signs

Delay in developmental milestones and school learningDifficulty understanding rules, money or timeNeeds support for everyday independence

Tips

For you

  1. Ask for a neuropsychological assessment to understand their profile of strengths and support needs
  2. Use short instructions, visual supports and stable routines
  3. Encourage independence with small steps and praise every achievement

For family and friends

  1. Speak in short sentences and check they have understood
  2. Celebrate every step towards independence, however small

When to ask for help

  1. If you notice they are losing skills they already had
  2. If there are sudden changes in behaviour or mood

Test for families

For parents or relatives: answer thinking about the child or person you are worried about, over the last few weeks. There are 8 questions and you get your result straight away. Your answers are not saved or sent.

0 of 8
1. Finds it harder than others their age to learn new things
2. Needs help with daily tasks that others their age do alone
3. Finds it hard to understand money, the time or the calendar
4. Needs instructions repeated several times
5. Finds it hard to foresee the consequences of what they do
6. Their language is simpler than that of others their age
7. Finds it hard to adapt to new situations
8. Needs support at school or work to keep up

Free resources

Downloadable PDF sheetSigns, tips and resources to print or savePlena inclusión: intellectual disability (Spain)Free external resourceFree guide: Childhood and youthFree resource from Clínica Vivaldi

Related disorders

Global developmental delayNeurodevelopmentalLanguage disorderNeurodevelopmentalSpeech sound disorderNeurodevelopmentalStuttering (fluidity disorder of childhood onset)Neurodevelopmental

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Reviewed by María Teresa Fernández Vicente, health psychologist and neuropsychologist (registration no. CV17304), in November 2026. Educational information prepared by the Clínica Vivaldi team based on the DSM-5-TR classification. It does not replace a professional assessment and cannot be used to diagnose.