Behavior with Children Suffering from Intellectual Disability

 Written by: Wahida Sabir

Intellectual disability is not a disease and could not be cured, however, early diagnosis and ongoing interventions could improve adaptive functioning throughout one's childhood and into adulthood but the attitude of parents with such children could increase and decrease the intellectual disability of the children.

AEPO’s writer/producer has talked to some people and a physician about this issue.

Shabana, a resident of Kabul province says: “one of my sisters suffers from an intellectual disability. When one of my brothers bothers her, she becomes angry and if she finds anything near herself, she breaks it.”

Naqeebullah, a resident of Khak-e-Jabar district, Kabul province says: “my brother is suffering from intellectual disability and my mother has bad behavior with him and she always beats him and he also does not accept what my mother wants him.”

Doctor Mohammad Shafi Azim, a neurologist at a private hospital in Kabul city says: "The intellectually disabled children have different categories and symptoms. Those who are related to the first and second categories, they understand every attitude and if they face a bad behavior, they could not control themselves and they might cause to harm themselves or other members of the family and their intellectual disability might increase.”

Why bad behavior of the family members causes to exacerbate the mental and psychological problems of these children?

Asif Muslih, a resident of Kabul city says: “if someone badly treats the intellectual child, he/she could not control him/her and he/she also shows a reaction.”

Shabana says: “As these children are mentally disabled, they could not tolerate an ordinary action against themselves and they react very soon.”

What do people think about the role of good behavior with intellectually disabled children?

A mother from Jalalabad city, Nangarhar province says: “My son is suffering from an intellectual disability. At the beginning, we do not care about him but when I took him to a doctor, the doctor advised us to have good behavior and keep him happy. Afterward, we always take him to parks and picnic.”

 Nazanin, a resident of Chaharasiab district, Kabul province says: “My brother is suffering from an intellectual disability. When we have good behavior with him, he becomes happy.”

Doctor Shafi Azim says: “A person with an intellectual disability might have the same kinds of feelings, thoughts, concerns, passions, and struggles that you do. If you begin with compassion, a positive attitude, and respect, you'll be off to a great start. Remember that people with intellectual disabilities are still people, who still experience the full range of emotions. Show respect and kindness to them. Everyone should be treated with kindness and respect. This could be achieved by avoiding name-calling and by ensuring that the body language used doesn't come across as defensive as this could come across as feeling uncomfortable around them simply because of their disability.”