What Is Mental Retardation?
What Is Mental Retardation?
Description of MR
According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, in the 1990s, mental retardation
occured in 2.5 to 3 percent of the general population. Mental retardation begins in childhood or
adolescence before the age of 18.
It persists throughout adulthood. Intellectual functioning level is defined by standardized tests
(Weschsler-Intelligence Scales) that measure the ability to reason in terms of mental age (intelligence
quotient or IQ). Diagnosis of mental retardation is made if an individual has an intellectual functioning level
well below average and significant limitations in two or more adaptive skill areas.
Mental retardation is defined as IQ score below 70 to 75.
Adaptive skills are the skills needed for daily life. Such skills include the ability to produce and
understand language (communication); home-living skills; use of community resources; health, safety,
leisure, self-care, and social skills; self-direction; functional academic skills (reading, writing, and
arithmetic); and work skills.
In general, mentally retarded children reach developmental milestones such as walking and talking
much later than the general population.
Symptoms of mental retardation may appear at birth or later in childhood. Time of onset depends
on the suspected cause of the disability.
Some cases of mild mental retardation are not diagnosed before the child enters pre-school.
These children typically have difficulties with social, communication, and functional academic
skills.
Children who have a neurological disorder or illness such as encephalitis or meningitis may
suddenly show signs of cognitive impairment and adaptive difficulties.
Single Gene Disorders: Inborn errors of metabolism like galactosemia, phenyl ketonuria,
hypothyroidism, muco polysaccaridoses, tay sachs disease
Neuro Cutaneous Syndromes: Tuberous sclerosis, neurofibromatosis
Dysmorphic Syndromes: Laurence Moon Biedl syndrome
Brain Malformations: Microcephaly, hydrocephalus, myelo meningocele
During delivery
Difficult and /or complicated delivery, severe prematurity, very low birth weight, birth asphyxia, birth trauma
Neonatal period: Septicemia, jaundice, hypoglycemia, neonatal convulsions
Infancy and childhood: Brain infections like tuberculosis, Japanese encephalitis, bacterial
meningitis, Head trauma, chronic lead exposure, severe and prolonged malnutrition, gross under
stimulation
Treatment
Treatment for Mental Retardation is not designed to "cure" the disorder. Rather, therapy goals
include reducing safety risks (e.g., helping an individual maintain safety at home or school) and teaching
appropriate and relevant life skills. Interventions should be based on the specific needs of individuals and
their families, with the primary goal of developing the person's potential to the fullest.
Medications are required to treat co morbidities like aggression, mood disorders, self injurious
behaviour, other behavioral problems and convulsions which occur in 40%to 70% of cases