Mental Retardation

Mental retardation is considered to be quite a serious condition. People want to stay away from this situation. There are many who do not know what exactly the situation means. Mental retardation can be referred to a condition diagnosed in individuals prior to they reach the age of eighteen.

The condition includes some specific problems faced by an individual in his/her daily life such as standard intellectual functions that is below average. Some individuals also find it difficult and almost impossible to carry out daily tasks. They lack necessary skills for this.

Mental retardation is also a condition that affects about 1-3 percent of world population. There are many causes related to mental retardation.

However, it is very difficult to specify any reason for the problem. In fact, medical experts are able to find a reason only for about 25 percent of mental retardation cases.

There are many signs and symptoms that can make parents of a child deduce mental retardation.

Some of the most common ones include lack of development of the following:

* Motor skills
* Language skills
* Self-help skills
* Development of the above stated skills at slower pace than normal

Usually, serious problems such as incapability to adapt to new situations and develop intellectual skills are apparent when the child is small.

However, under circumstances where the retardation level is mild, these failures are not apparent until the child is admitted in school.

Impairment degree of mental health may vary. There are terms such as the following listed below:

* Mild mental retardation
* Moderate mental retardation
* Profoundly impaired mind
* Borderline mental retardation

These days, very less emphasis is given on the retardation degree. In fact, medical experts and psychologists focus more on interference and regular care required for the patient in daily life.

Listed below are some of the most common causes that result in mental retardation:

* Infections that is present during birth
* Infections that occurs after birth
* Congenital Rubella
* Congenital CMV
* Congenital Toxoplasmosis
* HIV infection
* Encephalitis
* Listeriosis
* Meningitis
* Abnormalities related to chromosomes
* Deletion of Chromosome
* Translocation of Chromosomes
* Defects related to chromosome
* Errors in chromosome numbers
* Environmental causes
* Genetic abnormalities
* Deprivation syndrome
* Inherited disorders related to metabolism
* Galactosemia
* Adrenoleukodystrophy

Signs and Symptoms of Mental Retardation:

* Lack of curiosity
* Extreme changes in normal behaviour pattern
* Quiet behaviour
* Infant like behaviour regardless of age
* Intelligence quotient (IQ) score ranging below 70

Prevention

Social

Many Government based nutrition plans and programs are available to those who cannot afford expensive treatments. These programs are helpful in minimizing malnutrition related retardation.

Genetic

This is done via requisite prenatal screening for possible genetic defects as well as genetic counselling. This helps them gather adequate knowledge related to inherited mental disorders.

Infectious

Prevention of invention can do a lot in interfering in the development of mental retardation problems. Careful and consistent vigilance is required during pregnancy.

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