Mental retardation is a condition of intellectual and developmental delays, often diagnosed before the age of 18. It can be caused by genetic abnormalities, infections during pregnancy, or lack of oxygen during delivery. Symptoms may include slow development of motor skills, language, and daily living skills. There is no cure, but special educational techniques can help those with the condition learn and develop.
Mental retardation is a condition characterized by intellectual and developmental delays. This means that a person is functioning at an intellectual or developmental level considered to be below normal. A person with this condition often has difficulty learning and performing basic tasks associated with daily life. However, a diagnosis of mental retardation does not mean that a person cannot learn. Instead, it means that the person will likely need special help to learn and achieve developmental milestones.
An individual is typically diagnosed with mental retardation before they reach 18 years of age. Often, family members begin to suspect intellectual and developmental delays when a child reaches certain milestones at a slower-than-normal rate. For example, one child may be slower to develop motor skills than other children her age. It may take him longer than usual to turn or sit up. In some cases, a child may fail to develop some motor skills at all.
In addition to the slow development of motor skills, a mentally retarded child may be slow in the development of language and daily living skills. For example, he may not be able to brush his teeth or feed himself. He may also have difficulty speaking, start speaking much later than other children his age, or seem unable to form recognizable words. He may also have trouble adjusting to change.
Pinpointing what causes a person with developmental and intellectual disabilities can be difficult. Before a baby is born, his mother may develop infections that lead to the delay. Prescription drugs, illegal drugs, and alcohol use during pregnancy can also lead to the delay. Sometimes a genetic abnormality causes the condition.
Problems that can lead to mental retardation after pregnancy include not getting enough oxygen for the baby during delivery and developing a serious infection in infancy. However, the cause doesn’t always show up early in life. A severe head injury can lead to retardation at any age.
In cases of severe mental retardation, children can be diagnosed at a very young age because the symptoms are so obvious. When a child is only mildly retarded, however, her symptoms may not be diagnosed until after school or even later. If family members and doctors suspect mental retardation, a doctor typically uses developmental screening tests to diagnose it. Unfortunately, there is no cure. Instead, treatment usually focuses on special educational techniques designed to help a person with a developmental disability learn and develop.
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