A significant lag in a child's physical, cognitive, emotional or social maturity is called Developmental Delay. The range of developmental disability in children with WAGR syndrome varies, with most in the mildly to moderately delayed range. A few children with WAGR syndrome have profound delay, and a few have no delays.

• Delays in development may involve:
  • gross motor skills, such as sitting up, crawling, and walking
  • fine motor skills, such as holding a spoon, writing with a pen or pencil, and keyboarding
  • speech

Intellectual Disability is also common in individuals with WAGR syndrome, and also ranges from none, to mild, to severe. Intellectual Disability involves difficulty thinking, learning, and understanding.  People who have Intellectual Disability learn, but do so more slowly than their peers. 

Early intervention, physical, occupational and speech therapy, and special education each play a very important role in helping children with WAGR syndrome to reach their potential.

Regardless of the degree of developmental delay or Intellectual Disability, all children with WAGR syndrome can grow up to live happy, fulfilling, and productive lives. 

Developmental Delay is diagnosed when a child does not reach developmental milestones such as sitting up, walking, and talking at the expected age:

• Parents often notice these delays first
• The doctor may use a screening test to compare the child's physical and social skills to other children of the same age 

Intellectual Disability is diagnosed by measuring a person's intellectual function and comparing their adaptive behaviors with others of the same age:

• An intelligence quotient or IQ test measures a person's ability to learn, reason, make decisions, and solve problems
  • The average IQ score is 100. Most people score somewhere between 85-115
  • An IQ score below 70-75 is typically considered Intellectually Disabled 
• Tests for adaptive behaviors assess a person's ability to:
  • Feed and dress themselves
  • Understand and communicate with others
  • Interact with other people

Like everyone else, people with Intellectual Disability never stop learning. They simply learn more slowly than their peers. With education and support, individuals with Intellectual Disability can lead meaningful, joyful, and often surprisingly independent lives.