Cognitive stimulation activities for people with intellectual disabilities
- 1 Causes of intellectual disability
- 2 Symptoms of intellectual disability
- 3 Cognitive stimulation in people with intellectual disabilities
- 4 Cognitive stimulation activities for people with intellectual disabilities
Intellectual disability (ID) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by significant limitations in intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior, which manifest themselves during the developmental period.
Causes of intellectual disability
ID can have multiple causes:
- Metabolic;
- Infectious;
- Chromosomal;
- Environmental;
- Nutritional;
- Toxic: Intrauterine exposure to alcohol, cocaine or other drugs.
- And various other causes
It can also originate at different times:
- Before the baby is born;
- During birth;
- Because of a serious illness in childhood.
Symptoms of intellectual disability
Social and practical skills are affected, i.e. the daily living skills needed to live, work and play in the community: communication, social and interpersonal skills, self-care, domestic life, self-control, basic academic skills (basic reading, writing and mathematics), work, leisure, health and safety.
Adaptive skills are considered to be limited if there is a deficit in at least two of these areas compared to children of the same age and culture.
Cognitive stimulation in people with intellectual disabilities
Cognitive stimulation is recommended for all persons with intellectual disabilities in order to enhance their existing abilities, try to develop to the maximum those they do not have and give them strategies to replace those they cannot develop. In this way, the aim is for them to have a life that is as functional and autonomous as possible.
The cognitive stimulation program of NeuronUP allows neuropsychologists, occupational therapists and speech therapists to adapt each activity to the particularities and needs of each person with intellectual disability.
The examples of cognitive stimulation activities for people with intellectual disabilities that we describe here have been developed by NeuronUP under the principles of generalization.
Cognitive stimulation activities for people with intellectual disabilities
1. Select Items from a Category
How is it played?
The patient has to select a series of specific elements from a group of stimuli.
Play by level
In the simpler levels it will be easier as there will be less objects to select, while in the more advanced levels it will be more complicated as there will be more images to choose from.
In addition, this tab is available in both digital and paper format.
Cognitive functions
2. Select Items from a Category
How is it played?
It consists of relating various objects with the places where they are obtained and the professionals who are in charge of them.
Play by level
In the simpler levels it will be easier as there will be less objects to select, while in the more advanced levels it will be more complicated as there will be more images to choose from.
In addition, this tab is available in both digital and paper format.
Funciones cognitivas
3. Order Sequence
How is it played?
It is an exercise that consists of ordering a series of visual elements previously memorized..
Personalization of the activity
In addition, you can customize the activity to suit each patient’s capabilities.
General aspects
You will be able to adjust general aspects such as the type of operation, the maximum time, whether or not you want a visible stopwatch for the activity and an inactivity warning, modify the performance instructions, etc.
Parameters
And, on the other hand, the parameters, where you can select the number of elements, the number of exercises and the category of the elements (random, clothes and accessories, fruit and vegetables, furniture and appliances, animals, leisure, hygiene and beauty, kitchen utensils, office material, means of transport or instruments)
Cognitive Functions
This activity is designed to work on episodic memory, a type of declarative memory that is characterized because what we remember are facts or events, lived experiences located in space and time.
4. Matching Nouns to Images’
How is it played?
This worksheet consists of relating each noun with the image that represents it
Play by levels
In the simpler levels it will be easier as there will be less pictures to relate to your nouns and they will be simpler words, while in the more advanced levels there will be a greater number of words and they will be more complicated.
In addition, this card is available in both digital and paper format.
Cognitive Functions
This worksheet is created for the professional to work on the vocabulary with its users, with the aim of expanding their lexical knowledge.
5. Emotion recognition
How is it played?
It is an activity that consists of recognizing the emotions shown and relating them to the terms that define it. In this case you have to choose between whether this man is having fun or is angry.
Play by levels
At the simpler levels it will be easier as there will be fewer terms to relate and no possibility of doubt between the right option, while at the more advanced levels the options and difficulty will increase.
In addition, this card is available in both digital and paper format.
Cognitive Functions
If you liked this article on cognitive stimulation activities for persons with intellectual disabilities, you may also be interested in the following information:
- Cognitive stimulation exercises for people with Down syndrome
- Cognitive intervention for people with Down syndrome carried out by the Aura Fundación and NeuronUP
- Down Syndrome told by the Asociación Síndrome de Down Las Palmas
- What is Down syndrome? Dismantling the myths
- Myths and truths about Down Syndrome
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