MENTAL RETARDATION

What is Mental Retardation?

Mental retardation is a developmental
disability that is marked by lower-than-
normal intelligence and limited daily
living skills. Mental retardation is
normally present at birth or develops
early in life.
SPECTRUM OF MENTAL RETARDATION

Mild
Moderate
Severe
Profound
•Mild Mental Retardation
IQ scores from 50 to 75
Includes about 85 percent of the
mentally retarded population
Individuals in this group can
often live on their own with
community support.
•Moderate Mental Retardation
IQ scores between 35 and 50 Includes about 10
percent of the mentally retarded
population
Individualsin this group canoftenlead relatively
normal lives provided they receive some
level of supervision. Such individuals often live in
group homes with other mentally retarded
people.
•Severe Mental Retardation

IQ scores between 20 and 35 Includes about 3

percent to 4 percent of the mentally retarded
population .
Individuals in this category can often
master the most basic skills of living, such as
cleaning and dressing themselves. They often
live in group homes.
•Profound Mental Retardation

IQ scores of less than 20 Includes about

1 percent to 2 percent of the mentally
retarded population

Individuals at this level can often

develop basic communication and self-
care skills. They often have other mental
disorders.
 SOME TYPES OF MENTAL
RETARDATION
• Down's Syndrome • Hydrocephalus

• Fragile X Syndrome

• Microcephaly

• Phenlykketonuria
 DOWN SYNDROME
Down's syndrome is the most common
cause of mental retardation (see mental
retardation entry) and malformation in
newborns. It occurs because of the
presence of an extra chromosome.
FRAGILE X SYNDROME
Fragile X syndrome is an X
chromosome defect that
causes mental retardation and
a wide range of associated
signs and symptoms.
 HYDROCEPHALUS
an abnormal condition in which
cerebrospinal fluid collects in the ventricles
of the brain; in infants it can cause
abnormally rapid growth of the head and
bulging fontanelles and a small face; in
adults the symptoms are primarily
neurological.
 MICROCEPHALY
Microcephaly is a neurological disorder
where the distance around the largest
portion of the head (the circumference) is
less than should normally be the case in
an infant or a child. The condition can be
evident at birth, or can develop within the
first few years following birth. The smaller
than normal head restricts the normal
growth and development of the brain.
 PHENYLKETONURIA
The inherited inability to metabolize
(process) the essential amino acid
phenylalanine due to complete or near-
complete deficiency of the enzyme
phenylalanine hydroxylase.
 SOME MEASURES OF PREVENTION

Improving the nutritional status of the

community as a whole, especially the girl
child in order to reduce the risk factors for
mental retardation such as low birth
weight, and prematurity in the offspring
of these children in future.
Universal immunization of children with
BCG, polio, DPT, and MMR to prevent
many disorders having the propensity to
damage the brain and thereby causing
mental retardation. Rubella immunization
(part of MMR) can totally eradicate the
occurrence of maternal rubella syndrome.
Avoiding pregnancy before 21 years and
after the age of 35 years as complications
of pregnancy and labour are more
common before 21 years. The risk of
Downs syndrome and other chromosomal
disorders increases as the maternal age
at pregnancy crosses 35 years;
THANKYOU
IQ scores between 35 and 50 Includes about 10 percent of the
mentally retarded
population
Individualsin this group canoftenlead relatively normal lives
provided they receive some level of supervision. Such
individuals often live in group homes with other mentally
retarded people.