This document discusses mental retardation, including its definition, causes, types, and ways to support individuals. It defines mental retardation as significantly below average intellectual functioning and adaptive deficits appearing by age 18. Causes include genetic conditions like Down syndrome, infections, problems during pregnancy or birth. Mental retardation is classified by IQ scores into mild, moderate, severe and profound. Individuals in each category have different abilities and support needs. The document advocates for inclusive programming and community support to help those with mental retardation develop skills and fitness.

1. Mental Retardation
By- Dr. Asha Deshpande
Director- Kamayani,
Pune

2. Occurrence
 Mental retardation and physical disabilities
account for the population traditionally
thought of as disabled.
 Most teachers will work with these children
in school.
 This group makes up only a small portion of
those classified as disabled, but may
require a large part of the resources
needed.

3. Definition
 1. Mental retardation refers to
significantly sub average general
intellectual functioning, existing
concurrently with deficits in adaptive
behavior and manifested during the
developmental period up to 18 yrs of
age (AAMD definition). Test scores,
social skills, and age of onset
determine the placement.

4. Intellectual functioning
 IQ = Mental Age/Chronological Age X100.
The more severe the retardation the lower
the ratio of MA/CA i.e. a ten year old with a
MA of 5, IQ = 50.
 The children are classified as mild (50 -70),
moderate (35 © 55), severe (20 © 35), and
profound (>20). The MR child will tend
function closer to their CA in physical ability
then in their mental functioning.

5. 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.
 They are educable

6. Moderate Mental
Retardation
 IQ scores between 35 and 50
 Includes about 10 percent of the
mentally retarded population
 Individuals in this group can often
lead relatively normal lives
provided they receive some level
of supervision. Such individuals
often live in group homes with other
mentally retarded people

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. Incidence of MR

12. Causes of Mental
Retardation
 Infections (present at birth or occurring after
birth)
 Congenital CMV
 Congenital rubella
 Congenital toxoplasmosis
 Encephalitis
 HIV infection
 Meningitis

13. Causes - cntd
 Chromosomal abnormalities
Chromosome deletions
 More chromosome than usual
 Defects in the chromosome or
chromosomal inheritance,
fragile X syndrome,
 Errors of chromosome numbers
Down syndrome

14. Some types of Mental
Retardation
• Down's Syndrome
• Microcephaly
• Phenlykketonuria
• Hydrocephalus Fragile X Syndrome

15.  Fragile X syndrome is an X
chromosome defect that causes
mental retardation
 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
 Microcephaly- The smaller than
normal head restricts the normal
growth and development of the brain

16. Down syndrome
 It occurs because of the presence of
an extra chromosome Down syndrome
children are characterized by a
distinctive set of physical
characteristics. These physical
characteristics need to be factored in
program planning.

17. Causes of MR
Problems during pregnancy. Mental disability can
result when the fetus does not develop
properly. For example, there may be a problem
with the way the fetus' cells divide as it grows.
A woman who drinks alcohol (see
fetal alcohol syndrome) or gets an infection
like rubella during pregnancy may also have a
baby with mental disability
• Problems at birth. If a baby has problems
during labor and birth, such as not getting
enough oxygen, he or she may have
developmental disability due to brain
damage.

19. Causes of Mental Retardation
 Exposure to certain types of disease
or toxins. Diseases like whooping
cough, measles, or meningitis can
cause mental disability if medical care
is delayed or inadequate. Exposure to
poisons like lead or mercury may also
affect mental ability

20. Needs
 The MR child will need modifications in
rules and simplification of directions to
perform in class activities.
 Their skill and fitness level tends to be
below normal.
 Studies show that the MR child can
develop skills and fitness with
instruction and practice.

21. Programming
 Children with Mental Retardation can
benefit from physical activity.
 Programming needs to be inclusive as
much as possible.

25. 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

26.  Avoid marriages among cousins
 Avoid marriage and pregnancy of girls
before 18 yrs and after 35 yrs. Of age

27. Thank You