Which developmental characteristic should the nurse identify as typical of a client diagnosed with severe intellectual disability (ID)?

Choice A reason: Clients with severe intellectual disability often have very limited verbal communication skills. They may rely on nonverbal cues, gestures, or acting-out behaviors to express needs and emotions. This is typical because their cognitive and language development is significantly impaired, making expressive communication difficult. Acting out behaviors become a substitute for speech. Choice B reason: Severe intellectual disability usually involves deficits across multiple domains, including psychomotor skills. Coordination problems are common, but psychomotor skills are often delayed or impaired beyond that. Suggesting they are unaffected minimizes the extent of disability and is inaccurate. Choice C reason: Clients with severe intellectual disability generally require assistance with most self-care activities. While those with moderate intellectual disability may perform some tasks independently, severe cases usually need continuous support. This choice overestimates their functional independence. Choice D reason: Advanced speech development is not typical in severe intellectual disability. Language skills are profoundly limited, often restricted to single words or simple phrases. Advanced speech would be inconsistent with the severity of impairment.