Mental Retardation

The essential feature of mental retardation is an intellectual ability significantly below average general

It is accompanied by significant limitations in adaptive functioning itself of at least two of the following skill areas: communication, self-care, home living, social / interpersonal skills, use of community resources, self, functional academic skills, work, leisure, health and safety.

Its onset must be before 18 years of age

Mental retardation has different etiologies and may be considered the final common pathway of various pathological processes that affect the central nervous system function.

Mild mental retardation is roughly equivalent to what is seen in the educational category as "educable." This group includes most (about 85%) of those affected by the disorder. Taken together, these people often develop social and communication skills during the preschool years (0-5 years), have minimal deficiencies in motor and sensory areas are often not distinguishable from children without Mental Retardation until a later age . During the last years of his adolescence, they can acquire academic skills that place them at approximately the sixth year of basic education. During his adult life, tend to acquire social and work skills appropriate to a minimum autonomy, but may need supervision, guidance and assistance, especially in situations of unusual social or economic stress. Appropriate support, individuals with mild mental retardation tend to live successfully in the community, either independently or in supervised establishments.

Moderate mental retardation is roughly equivalent to the educational category of "trainable". You should not use the outdated term, it wrongly implies that people with moderate mental retardation can not benefit from educational programs. This group constitutes about 10% of all people with mental retardation. Most individuals with this level of mental retardation acquire communication skills during early childhood. Can take advantage of job training and, with moderate supervision, attend to their own personal care. They can also benefit from social skills training and employment, but are unlikely to progress beyond the second level in academic subjects. They can learn to travel independently in places that are familiar.

During adolescence, their difficulties in recognizing social conventions may interfere with relations with other boys or girls. Reached adulthood, most are able to perform unskilled jobs, always with supervision, in sheltered workshops or in the general labor market. They adapt well to life in community, usually in supervised.

The group of people with severe mental retardation includes 3-4% of individuals with mental retardation. During the early years of children acquire language with little or no communication.

During school age can learn to speak and can be trained in basic self-care skills. Only limited benefit from the teaching of academic subjects such as familiarity with the alphabet and simple calculation, but they can master certain skills such as learning the global reading of words necessary for "survival." In the adult years may be able to perform simple tasks in closely supervised institutions. Most adapt well to life in the community, whether in group homes or with their families, unless they suffer a disability that requires specialized care associated or any other assistance.

The group suffering from severe mental retardation includes about 1-2% of people with mental retardation. Most individuals with this diagnosis have identified a neurological disease that explains their mental retardation. During the early childhood years considerable develop sensory motor disfunction. It can be predicted optimal development in a highly structured environment with constant aid and supervision, as well as an individualized relationship with the educator. Motor development and communication skills and personal care can improve if they are subjected to proper training. Some of them come to perform simple tasks in closely supervised institutions and protected.

Has mild mental retardation (C. I) higher than the gr ave mental retardation because the mild mental retardation has a C. I 50-55 and severe mental retardation has a C. I then 35-40 is more difficult doagnosticar severe mental retardation