WEST-E Special Education Practice Test

Which infection of the brain can lead to various disabilities, including intellectual disabilities?

1. Meningitis

2. Encephalitis

3. Cerebral Palsy

4. Huntington's Disease

The correct answer is: Meningitis

The correct response to the question focuses on encephalitis as the infection of the brain that can lead to various disabilities, including intellectual disabilities. Encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain that can be caused by viral infections, bacterial infections, or autoimmune responses. The inflammation can damage brain tissue, which may result in issues such as cognitive impairments, motor difficulties, and in severe cases, lifelong disabilities, including intellectual disabilities. Meningitis, while an infection affecting the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, does not typically cause intellectual disabilities in the same way that encephalitis does. Cerebral palsy is not an infection but rather a group of motor disorders caused by brain damage, often occurring during fetal development or shortly after birth, and it primarily affects movement and coordination rather than directly resulting from an infection. Huntington's disease is a hereditary neurodegenerative disorder that primarily manifests in motor control and cognitive decline over time and is not caused by an infection. Thus, encephalitis is the most appropriate answer as it directly involves brain inflammation from infections, potentially leading to various disabilities, including intellectual disabilities.