Patient's question:
The child often communicates poorly and cannot go to school, getting angry because they don't understand the reason. This has been an issue since they were young. Regarding past treatment and effectiveness: They were on medication until they were 13 and visited many places. Now, my sister has given up all hope. Hello...Doctor's answer:
For certain types of intellectual disability with clear etiology, while undergoing special education training, targeted treatment should be implemented based on different causes to prevent the condition from worsening and aid in recovery. Various medications such as different amino acids, Nootropil, and R-carnitine can be used for treatment.1. Intellectual disability, once it occurs, is very difficult to correct. Therefore, preventive measures include improving the health of young couples, preventing consanguineous marriages, preventing conception in individuals with genetic diseases, and conducting regular necessary examinations during pregnancy, such as chromosomal testing of amniotic fluid cells at 14–16 weeks of gestation and enzymatic tests. If necessary, early pregnancy termination may be considered. Additionally, efforts should be made to prevent factors that can lead to intellectual disability during the fetal period, perinatal period, and childhood, as well as various diseases or conditions.
2. Etiological treatment: If the cause can be identified early, there may be opportunities for treatment in some cases. For example, hypothyroidism-induced intellectual disability can be treated with thyroid hormone tablets, and phenylketonuria patients can undergo early dietary treatment. Currently, there are no effective drugs to enhance intellectual development. Many drugs that promote the decomposition and metabolism of brain cells may help stabilize intellectual impairments, such as vitamin B6, Nootropil, Noofuran, and Cerebrolysin. Individuals with epilepsy should be treated with appropriate antiepileptic drugs, and those with agitated behavioral abnormalities can be given antipsychotic drugs such as chlorpromazine and perphenazine.
3. Education and training: Educators must have great patience, starting with simple content and gradually increasing complexity to cultivate the individual's ability to read and survive. Older children should be trained in simple labor skills step by step to enable them to become self-sufficient in the future. Parents should be made aware that scolding-based education is harmful and ineffective. Moderate cases can undergo rehabilitation training.