**A Compassionate Guide to the Intellectual-disability Diagnostic Process**

Why Trust Cadabam' s CDC for Your Child’s Intellectual-disability Diagnosis?

Choosing the right pediatric diagnostic center is the most critical decision you can make. An accurate, thoughtful diagnosis is the foundation for effective therapy and a brighter future. Here’s why families trust Cadabam' s CDC.

A Multidisciplinary Team Offering a 360° Diagnostic Perspective

A single viewpoint is never enough. Our approach to a multidisciplinary diagnosis of Intellectual-disability involves a team of experts—including developmental pediatricians, clinical psychologists, neurologists, and therapists—who collaborate to build a complete picture of your child's strengths and challenges. This ensures the diagnosis is comprehensive, accurate, and truly reflects your child as a whole person.

Child-Friendly Infrastructure for Accurate and Stress-Free Assessments

We know that children show their true abilities when they feel safe and comfortable. Our center is designed to be a welcoming, engaging, and stress-free space. This child-friendly environment allows for a more accurate pediatric assessment for Intellectual-disability, as our specialists can observe your child playing, interacting, and engaging naturally.

From Diagnosis to a Clear, Personalised Treatment Plan

A diagnosis is not a label; it’s a roadmap. We are committed to diagnosis and therapy planning that looks beyond the initial assessment. Once the diagnostic process is complete, our team works with you to create a clear, personalized, and actionable treatment plan designed to help your child thrive.

Over 32+ Years of Specialised Expertise in Neurodevelopmental Care

For over three decades, Cadabam's has been a leader in behavioral and neurological healthcare. Cadabam' s CDC brings this specialized expertise to bear on neurodevelopmental screening and child developmental evaluation, ensuring your child receives care informed by experience, research, and a deep commitment to excellence.

Recognising Early Signs of Intellectual-disability

One of the first steps for parents is learning how to identify developmental delays. While every child develops at their own pace, certain patterns can indicate the need for a developmental screening for Intellectual-disability. Here are some early signs and symptoms to be aware of.

Developmental and Motor Delays

• Significant delays in reaching milestones like sitting up, crawling, walking, or talking.
• Clumsiness or difficulty with motor coordination.
• Struggles with fine motor skills like holding a crayon, using utensils, or buttoning clothes.

Atypical Behaviours or Sensory Responses

• Difficulty with memory or learning new routines.
• Trouble with problem-solving or logical thinking.
• Extreme reactions (or under-reactions) to sensory input like sounds, textures, or lights.

Speech, Feeding, or Communication Challenges

• Delayed language development or difficulty expressing needs.
• Trouble understanding spoken language or following directions.
• Challenges with feeding, such as chewing or swallowing.

Co-Occurring or Associated Difficulties

• Difficulties with social skills, such as sharing or taking turns.
• Behavioral challenges like tantrums or aggression that are out of proportion for their age.
• Signs of other conditions like seizures, ADHD, or Autism Spectrum Disorder.

A Step-by-Step Look at the Diagnostic Process at CadabamsCDC

We are often asked, "how is Intellectual-disability diagnosed?" Our process is thorough, collaborative, and designed to give you complete clarity.

Step 1 - Initial Consultation and Developmental Screening

Your journey begins with a conversation. We listen to your concerns, answer your initial questions, and conduct a preliminary developmental screening for Intellectual-disability. This helps us understand if a more comprehensive evaluation is needed.

Step 2 - Detailed Medical & Developmental History Review

We gather a complete history, including your child’s health, your family's medical history, and a timeline of their developmental milestones. This context is crucial for an accurate diagnosis.

Step 3 - Physical, Neurological & Behavioural Examination

A developmental pediatrician will conduct a gentle but thorough physical and neurological exam to rule out other medical causes for your child's delays and to assess their reflexes, motor tone, and overall health.

Step 4 - Observational and Standardised Diagnostic Tests

This is a core part of the evaluation. It includes:

• Observational Assessments: Our clinicians observe your child during play-based activities to assess their communication, social interaction, and problem-solving skills.
• Standardized Testing: We use gold-standard, age-appropriate tests to measure cognitive functioning (IQ) and adaptive behaviour (skills for daily living).

Step 5 - Collaborative Diagnosis & Goal Setting with Families

A diagnosis is never just handed to you. Our team meets with you to discuss all the findings in easy-to-understand terms. We answer every question and work with you to set meaningful, family-centered goals, marking the transition from assessment to action.

Understanding the Role of the DSM in Intellectual-disability Diagnosis

The DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition) is the primary guide used by clinicians in the United States and many other parts of the world. Understanding the DSM diagnosis helps you see how professionals ensure consistency and accuracy.

Beyond the Primary Diagnosis: Understanding the Whole Child

The DSM-5 criteria for intellectual disability require deficits in two key areas: intellectual functioning (reasoning, problem-solving) and adaptive functioning (daily living skills). This ensures the diagnosis reflects real-world challenges, not just a test score.

Identifying Co-Occurring Conditions Using DSM-5 Criteria

Children with intellectual disabilities often have co-occurring conditions. The DSM-5 provides clear criteria to also identify conditions like ADHD, autism, or anxiety disorders, which is essential for comprehensive treatment planning.

Common Co-Occurring Conditions in Intellectual-disability

• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
• Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Communication Disorders
• Anxiety and Mood Disorders
• Motor skill disorders (e.g., Developmental Coordination Disorder)

The Power of a Unified, Collaborative Approach

By using the DSM-5, our entire multidisciplinary team—from the psychologist to the speech therapist—shares a common diagnostic language. This unity is key to building an integrated and effective therapy plan.

Understanding the ICD Classification for Intellectual-disability

Parallel to the DSM is the ICD (International Classification of Diseases), maintained by the World Health Organization. Understanding the ICD diagnosis is important as it is used for health records and insurance purposes globally.

What an ICD Diagnosis Means for Families

An ICD code is the official "label" for the diagnosis in your child's medical record. It is used for billing insurance, applying for government support services, and creating an Individualized Education Program (IEP) at school.

Key ICD-10 & ICD-11 Codes Explained

The system is transitioning from ICD-10 to ICD-11.

• ICD-10 codes for Intellectual-disability ranged from F70 (Mild) to F79 (Unspecified). For example, F71 signified Moderate intellectual disability.
• The ICD-11 classification for Intellectual-disability uses new codes and provides more detail. The main codes fall under "Disorders of Intellectual Development" (6A00), with specifiers for severity (mild, moderate, severe, profound) and the presence of challenging behaviour.

The Benefits of ICD-11: A More Precise Picture

ICD-11 offers a more nuanced framework than its predecessor. It emphasizes adaptive functioning alongside intellectual ability, aligning more closely with modern diagnostic practices and providing a more functional, less label-focused picture of a person's needs.

How CadabamsCDC Ensures ICD Accuracy

Our clinicians are proficient in both DSM-5 and the latest ICD-11 classifications. We ensure your child’s diagnosis is accurately documented, providing you with the proper coding needed for insurance and school-based services.

From Diagnosis to Development: Your Child’s Journey Forward

The early diagnosis of Intellectual-disability is not the end of the road—it is the beginning of a supported, purposeful journey.

Early Intervention: The Critical Next Step

After diagnosis, the most critical step is early intervention assessment and support. Research overwhelmingly shows that starting therapies early leads to significantly better long-term outcomes in skill development and independence.

Customised Paediatric Therapy Plans

We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all solutions. Your child’s therapy plan will be a unique blend of services tailored to their specific needs, potentially including:

• Occupational Therapy to build daily living and sensory processing skills.
• Speech-Language Therapy to improve communication and feeding.
• Physiotherapy to enhance gross motor skills and coordination.
• Special Education to build pre-academic and learning skills.

Family Coaching & Home-Based Support

You are your child's most important teacher. We empower you with strategies and support to continue skill-building at home, ensuring progress is consistent and integrated into your daily family life.

Meet the Experts Behind the Diagnosis

Our strength lies in our people. When you come to CadabamsCDC, you are entrusting your child to a team of dedicated, experienced, and compassionate professionals.

Developmental Paediatricians & Neurologists

Our medical doctors lead the diagnostic process, providing medical oversight, ruling out other conditions, and managing any related health concerns.

Occupational, Physiotherapists & Speech-Language Pathologists

Our therapists are experts in child development. They conduct key assessments of motor, sensory, communication, and daily living skills that are vital to an accurate pediatric assessment for Intellectual-disability.

Clinical Psychologists & Special Educators

These professionals administer and interpret the standardized tests for cognitive and adaptive functioning. They play a key role in understanding your child’s learning profile and behavioral needs.

Expert Quotes & Insights

"A diagnosis is simply a key that unlocks the door to understanding. Our job is to not only find the right key but to walk through that door with the family, showing them the paths to growth and potential that lie beyond." - Lead Developmental Pediatrician, CadabamsCDC

Real-Life Journeys: From Diagnosis to Progress

Here are stories of families who started their journey with us, moving from uncertainty to empowerment.

Case Study 1 - Early Diagnosis and Improved Outcomes

Aarav’s parents were concerned about his significant speech delays at age 3. An early child developmental evaluation at CadabamsCDC identified a moderate intellectual disability and a communication disorder. With intensive, early speech and occupational therapy, Aarav began using a picture exchange system to communicate his needs, drastically reducing his frustration and tantrums and allowing his bright personality to shine.

Case Study 2 - A Path from Confusion to Clarity

Priya, age 7, was struggling at school and socially. Previous assessments had been inconclusive. Our multidisciplinary diagnosis for Intellectual-disability revealed a mild intellectual disability co-occurring with ADHD. This "dual diagnosis" explained why she struggled with both learning and focus. With a combined plan of special education support and behavioral strategies for ADHD, Priya's school performance and self-confidence improved dramatically.

Family Testimonial - “Diagnosis Was the Beginning, Not the End”

“Hearing the diagnosis was scary at first, but the team at CadabamsCDC helped us see it differently. They gave us a plan, they gave us tools, and most importantly, they gave us hope. For us, the diagnosis wasn't the end of a dream for our son; it was the beginning of a new, supported journey where we could finally help him in the ways he truly needed. We are so grateful.” – Mother of a 6-year-old.