Mental retardation is a condition, usually irreversible, characterized by a lower than normal intellectual capacity with learning difficulties and social adaptation, which is usually present from birth or manifested in the early years of childhood.
In most cases, the cause of mental retardation is unknown, but several conditions during pregnancy can cause or contribute to a child’s mental retardation, such as the use of certain medications, excessive alcohol consumption, radiation therapy, and poor diet.
- Difficulties associated with premature birth.
- Traumatic brain injuries.
- Or very low oxygen levels during childbirth can also cause mental retardation.
Chromosomal abnormalities, such as Down syndrome, are common causes of mental retardation, but this condition may be the result of other inherited disorders that can be corrected before mental retardation occurs, such as phenylketonuria or cretinism, for example.
The degrees of mental retardation that can be observed by an IQ test
Children with an IQ of 69 to 84 have a learning disability, but are not considered mental retardation, but those with mild mental retardation, an IQ of 52 to 68, although they have a reading disability, can acquire the basic teaching skills needed day after day.
Mental retardation can be classified as:
It is characterized by an IQ between 52 and 68
Children with mild mental retardation can reach a reading level similar to that of children between 4th and 6th grades by acquiring the basic teaching skills needed in their daily lives.
These people generally have no obvious physical defects, but they may suffer from epilepsy and need the supervision of specialized educational institutions, are often immature and unrefined, with little capacity for social interaction, their line of thought is very specific and in general they are unable to generalize, have difficulty adapting to new situations and may have bad judgment, lack of prevention and excessive credulity , and are capable of committing impulsive crimes.
Despite limited intellectual capacity, all children with mental retardation can benefit from special education.
It is characterized by an IQ between 36 and 51
They learn more slowly to talk or sit, but if they receive the right training and support, adults with this degree of mental retardation may live with some independence, but the intensity of support has to be established for each patient and sometimes only takes a while. little help to be able to integrate.
It is characterized by an IQ between 20 and 35.
As a feature of severe mental retardation, a learning disability may be highlighted even in relation to a child with a less severe delay, especially in cases where the IQ is less than 19, in these cases, in general, the child cannot learn, speak or is understood to some extent, always requiring specialized professional support.
The life expectancy of mentally retarded children may be shorter and it seems that the more severe the mental retardation, the lower the life expectancy.