Mental retardation or intellectual disability, (MR/ID), exists in children whose brains do not develop properly or function within the normal range. There are four levels of retardation: mild, moderate, severe, and profound. Sometimes, MR/ID may be classified as other or unspecified. Mental retardation involves both a low IQ and problems adjusting to everyday life.
MR/ID can result in learning, speech, physical, and social disabilities. Severe cases are diagnosed at birth. However, milder forms might not be noticed until a child fails to meet a common developmental goal. Almost all cases of MR/ID are diagnosed by the time a child reaches 18 years of age.
MR/ID is divided into four levels based on IQ and degree of social adjustment.
At this level, a person:
At this level, a person:
At this level, a person:
At this level, a person:
Children in this category are often blind, deaf, mute, and physically disabled. These factors prevent physicians from conducting screening tests.
Signs of MR/ID exist, but there is not enough information to assign the child to a level.
According to Psychology Today, only 25 percent of MR/ID cases have a known cause (Psychology Today, 2010).
When they are known, the cayses of mental retardation include:
Symptoms of MR/ID will vary based on the level of the disability. They can include:
Individuals who are intellectually disabled will often have some of the following behavioral issues:
Physical signs of MR/ID include short stature and malformed facial features. However, physical signs are not always present.
A diagnosis of MR/ID requires that both intellectual and adaptive skills be well below average. There are three parts to the evaluation:
Your child will be given standard intelligence tests, such as the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Test, to determine IQ. Other tests, such as the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, will be given to assess your childâs daily living skills and social abilities compared with other children in the same age group. It is important to remember that children from different cultures and socio-economic statuses may perform differently on these tests. Results of these tests will be combined with information obtained from interviews with parents and observations of the child to assist in the diagnosis.
The screening process might include visits to many different professionals including the following:
Laboratory and imaging tests may be performed as well to detect metabolic and genetic disorders and structural problems with the brain. It is important to rule out such things as hearing loss, learning disorders, neurological disorders, and emotional problems as the cause for delayed development before making a diagnosis of MR/ID.
Once MR/ID has been diagnosed, the family, school, and primary care physician will use the results of these tests and evaluations to develop a treatment and education plan.
Ongoing counseling will often be needed to help the child cope with disabilities.
Parents with intellectually disabled infants and toddlers will get a family service plan that describes their childâs needs. The plan will also detail the services the child will need to help him or her with normal development. Family needs are also addressed in the plan.
When the child is ready to attend school, a new plan, called the Individualized Education Program (IEP), will be put in place to assist the child with his or her educational needs.
The main goal of treatment is to assist the child in reaching his or her full potential in terms of education and social and life skills. Treatment may include behavior therapy, occupational therapy, counseling, and in some cases, medication. All children with MR/ID benefit from special education, and the federal Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) requires that public schools provide free and appropriate education to children with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities.
When MR/ID occurs with other serious physical problems, the life expectancy of the child may be shortened. In general, the more severe the cognitive disability and the more physical problems the child has, the shorter the life expectancy. However, a child with mild to moderate MR/ID has a fairly normal life expectancy. As adults, these people can often be successful at jobs that require basic intellectual skills, can live independently, and can support themselves.
Source: http://www.healthline.com
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