‘Waiting is crucial for children with borderline intelligence’

Children with borderline intelligence learn and adapt at a slower rate than their peers. They need an environment where they can grow at their own pace. However, because it's not easy to diagnose, they often don't receive enough attention in school and life.

Korea Biomedical Review met Professor Hong Soon-beom of the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Seoul National University Hospital to learn more about borderline intelligence and the importance of waiting.

Question: What is borderline intelligence?

Answer: Intelligence is the ability to learn. Borderline intelligence is generally defined as having an intelligence quotient (IQ) between 70 and 85, which is slightly higher than the diagnostic threshold for intellectual disability (70 or below). It is not considered a "disorder.”

Recently, there has been a global consensus that a more comprehensive assessment, encompassing not just IQ, is necessary to diagnose individuals with borderline intelligence accurately. In particular, in addition to intellectual functioning, “adaptive functioning,” such as communication, socialization, and self-management, is also considered essential for evaluating borderline intelligence.

Q: What are the characteristics of borderline intelligence?

A: Children with borderline intelligence have difficulty learning as much as their peers, but not as much as children with intellectual disabilities. It's a “borderline” difficulty, which is why it's difficult to detect early. When a child first enters school, they may not think they have a problem, but it's only when they start to struggle academically that they begin to suspect they might have one.

Even before enrollment, a student may exhibit signs of borderline intelligence, such as delayed language development or a limited understanding of concepts. However, because borderline intelligence tends to stand out when compared to typical peers, it's often harder to detect when peers are less likely to be in the same room.

Q: What are some of the challenges for children with borderline intelligence?

A: Learning doesn't just stop at school; it continues in everyday life and friendships. When playing with friends, children with borderline intelligence often don't understand the rules of play or how to win games until later in life. As a result, they can be left out of play, marginalized, and struggle with forming friendships.

Relationships with parents may suffer. Parents are often frustrated by their child's lack of understanding and slow learning, and they often try to overcome this by scolding them. However, if a child feels that they can't keep up with their peers outside of school and is often scolded at home, their self-esteem can suffer, and they can lose motivation. They may even develop resentment towards their parents.

Q: Is there a cure for borderline intelligence?

A: The first thing children with borderline intelligence need is educational support. This means teaching at the child's learning level. Rather than being in the same class as their peers and struggling to keep up, they need to understand the material at their own level and experience progress. Even if they fall behind, it's emotionally better than being overwhelmed by material they don't understand.

It's also important to train to improve adaptive skills. Adaptive skills include communication, socialization, self-management, and life and motor skills. Even if a child's intelligence is low, they can still develop adaptive skills through education and training. For adolescents, career counseling and vocational training are essential means of enhancing adaptive skills.

Finally, comorbidities, including depression, anxiety, and ADHD, need to be treated. Borderline children suffer from these conditions more often than their peers. When these conditions are treated appropriately, educational support can be more effective.

Q: What can parents do at home to support their child with borderline intelligence?

A: At home, it's essential to be patient with your child. It's also a good idea to start practicing academic and daily routines at home that match your child's learning level. For example, for children with borderline intelligence who struggle to understand the rules of a game as well as their peers, it's helpful for parents to try the game with their child first.

Even if your child seems to be developing at a slower pace than others, it's vital to help them experience development at their own pace. Be cautious of both over-expectation and neglect, and be sure to praise and celebrate achievements when they occur, even if they are not ahead of their peers.

Q: What is your advice for children with borderline intelligence?

A: It's hard to imagine a 100-pound person competing in boxing or wrestling against a 50-pound person. Similarly, it's not fair for someone with an IQ of 140 to compete academically against someone with an IQ of 70. However, because intelligence is not as readily apparent as weight, it's easy to fool ourselves into thinking it's fair.

For children with relatively low intelligence to grow up healthy, we need a society that doesn't focus on academic competition. At the same time, the burden on parents needs to be socially relieved. We need a society that recognizes parents who have raised smart children to be happy adults, not those who have sent them to top universities.