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Therapies for Intellectual Disabilities and Outdated/Unproven Treatments

Tammy Reynolds, B.A., C.E. Zupanick, Psy.D. & Mark Dombeck, Ph.D.

Various therapeutic services can improve a person's adaptive behavioral skills. These therapies are helpful for many people with intellectual disabilities (ID, formerly mental retardation).

Occupational therapy

  • Meaningful and purposeful activities;
  • Self-care (e.g., grooming, dressing, feeding, bathing);
  • Employment activities and skills;
  • Leisure activities (e.g., knitting, playing games);
  • Domestic activities (e.g., cooking, cleaning, laundry).

Speech therapy

  • Improves communication skills;
  • Improves receptive and expressive languages skills;
  • Improves speech articulation;
  • Improves vocabulary.

Physical therapy

  • Enhances quality of life by maximizing mobility and self-locomotion;
  • Provides adaptive solutions to mobility problems;
  • Increases sensory integration

Outdated, Unproven 'Treatments' for Intellectual Disabilities

Effective skills training and educational approaches for people with intellectual disabilities (ID, formerly mental retardation) have already been discussed. These approaches are concrete, systematic, and straightforward. These evidence-based practices are supported by a large body scientific research. In this section, we review several so-called 'treatments.' As we have emphasized, there is no 'treatment' for a disability. At best, some medical treatments are effective at reducing the symptoms of the conditions causing the disability. Nonetheless, unsubstantiated claims are made about alternative treatments. There are no reliable research studies to support claims of effectiveness.

Orthomolecular therapy: We all know diet and nutrition are important for good health. Just like many other folks, some people with IDs don't eat a healthy diet. In these cases, nutritional supplements may be beneficial. However, diet and nutritional supplements have not been proven to enhance cognitive functioning, performance, or learning in individuals with IDs. Orthomolecular therapy claims vitamins and minerals can treat (reverse) a number of different conditions including IDs. Proponents of orthomolecular therapy contend that cognitive disorders can be improved by 'molecular balance' via nutritional supplements. These claims have not been substantiated using accepted scientific methods.

Medications: Medications are legitimately prescribed when neurocognitive disorders are the root cause of the disability. Currently, no medication can treat the entire spectrum of disorders that cause IDs. Nonetheless, the use of "nootropic" medicines (i.e., 'smart drugs') to improve people's learning abilities is a growing area of interest. At this time, there is insufficient evidence to suggest that nootropic drugs facilitate learning in persons with IDs.

Talk therapy: Talk therapy refers to psychotherapy. Psychotherapy is useful for many psychiatric disorders. However, psychotherapy cannot treat, arrest, or cure disabilities. Some types of psychotherapy may be a helpful adjunct for some people with mild ID, and who have psychiatric disorder such as depression. Nonetheless, psychotherapies have not proven effective for people with ID. Such therapies rely on a person's cognitive, emotional, and verbal abilities in order to promote change. Therefore, people with ID are not good candidates for such therapies.

Genetic manipulations: Someday it may be possible to use genetic manipulations. This area of research attempts to correct the genetic causes of some IDs. However, this promising area of research is still in its infancy.

 


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Additional Support Services for People with Intellectual Disabilities and Their Families: Community Supports

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Resources

  • Articles

    • Introduction to Intellectual Disabilities
    • Causes of Intellectual Disabilities
    • Diagnosis of Intellectual Disabilities
      • The Diagnosis of Intellectual Disabilities
      • Psychological Tests and Intellectual Disabilities
      • Psychological Tests and Intellectual Disabilities Continued
      • Tests of Adaptive Functioning
      • Diagnostic Criteria for Intellectual Disabilities: DSM-5 Criteria
      • The American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) Diagnostic Criteria for Intellectual Disability
      • Comparing the APA and the AAIDD Diagnostic Criteria for Intellectual Disability
      • Intellectual Disability and Severity Codes
      • Intellectual Disability and Other Psychiatric Disorders
    • Historical & Contemporary Perspectives of Intellectual Disabilities
      • Historical And Contemporary Perspectives on Intellectual Disabilities
      • Early Medical Explanations of Intellectual Disability
      • History of Stigmatizing Names for Intellectual Disabilities
      • History of Stigmatizing Names for Intellectual Disabilities Continued
      • Reducing the Stigma of Intellectual Disabilities: The Evolution of Modern Medical Explanations
      • Paving the Way to a Modern Conception of Intellectual Disability: Advancements in Intelligence Testing
      • Advancements in Genetic Research
      • Social and Political Controversies Associated with Intellectual Disabilities
      • Reproductive Rights for People with Intellectual Disabilities
    • Intellectual Disabilities & Supportive Rehabilitation
      • Intellectual Disabilities and Supportive Rehabilitation: Developing an Individualized Support Plan (ISP)
      • Educational Supports and Individual Educational Plans (IEPs)
      • The Choice of Educational Settings: The Pros and Cons of Mainstreaming Children With Intellectual Disabilities
      • Effective Teaching Methods for People With Intellectual Disabilities
      • Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) and Intellectual Disabilities
      • Physical Therapy and Sensory Skills Training
      • Individualized Support Plans: Adaptive Functioning & Life Skills
      • Social Skills Training
      • Supported Employment and Integrated Work Sites
      • Supported Housing and Community Integration
      • Therapies for Intellectual Disabilities and Outdated/Unproven Treatments
    • Support for Families of People with Intellectual Disabilities
      • Additional Support Services for People with Intellectual Disabilities and Their Families: Community Supports
      • Additional Support Services: Financial Supports
      • Additional Support Services: Family Supports
      • Additional Support Services: Advocacy and Legal Supports
    • Intellectual Disabilities Summary & Conclusion
      • Intellectual Disabilities Summary and Conclusion
    • Intellectual Disabilities Resources & References
      • Intellectual Disabilities Resources and References
      • Intellectual Disabilities Document Revision History
  • Book & Media Reviews

    • A Special Education
    • Living with Mild Cognitive Impairment
  • Videos

    • What is Intellectual Disability?
    • Let's Talk About Intellectual Disabilities: Loretta Claiborne
    • What Causes an Intellectual Disability?
    • What Is An Intellectual Disability?
    • What's disability to me? Mia's story.
    • Primary Care of Children and Young Adults with Down Syndrome
    • Dr. Tim Shriver: Intellectually Different ... Not Disabled
    • Living with Down Syndrome: Parents, Health Professionals and Personal Perspectives