Many people on other forums say they can tell I have an intellectual disability by the way I write but I’m able to write just fine. Also my psychologist said they had concerns about my intellectual functioning. What does this mean exactly? It doesn’t mean necessarily that I’m intellectual disabled right? So why would someone assume that? Trust me if I had an intellectual disability I would sound like someone with Down syndrome. I watch vids of people with borderline intellectual and the people sounded like they had Down syndrome. I sound completely normal so it’s unlikely I have an intellectual disability? Or you can be mild intellectual disabled and not sound like you have Down syndrome?
Hi Christina, good question to ask, and the short answer is: no, “concerns about intellectual functioning” doesn’t automatically mean a diagnosis. It usually means the psychologist noticed something they want to look into more, often with testing.
On the other part, Down syndrome is a genetic condition, and it’s separate from intellectual disability, even though some people with Down syndrome also have one. Most people with a mild intellectual disability, or with borderline intellectual functioning, don’t stand out in everyday conversation or writing at all. So how someone sounds in a video, or how you write online, can’t really tell you either way.
Honestly, strangers on other forums aren’t in a position to judge this. Your psychologist is. It’s completely fair to ask them directly: “What exactly are your concerns? Are you planning to test for anything? What would a result mean for me day to day?” You have every right to understand what’s in your own records.
Hope that helps a bit. Feel free to update us after you talk to them.