Risk and Prognostic factors (defined as the likely causes/factors which lead to the development of an ailment) of IDD include:

1. Prenatal aetiologies, such as genetic syndromes (ex. Variations in gene sequencing or copy number variants; chromosomal disorders)
2. Inborn metabolism errors
3. Brain malformations
4. Maternal disease (ex. Placental disease)
5. Environmental influences, such as alcohol, drugs, teratogens, or other toxins
6. Labor and delivery-related events that may lead to neonatal encephalopathy (a disease of the newborn characterized by an inability to maintain respiration, in an altered state of consciousness, seizures, spasms, and poor tone)
7. Severe and chronic social deprivation
8. Toxic metabolic syndromes
9. Intoxications
10. Low birthweight
11. Premature births
12. Multiple births
13. Infections during pregnancy
14. Untreated newborn jaundice (a condition where the skin, whites of eyes, and mucus membranes turn yellow due to the inability of the liver to process red blood cells – though this is normal in newborn babies, it is supposed to be cleared after a day; untreated jaundice can cause a type of brain damage known as Kernicterus)