|
|
You are in >>Health Channels>Mental Health>Retardation
|
|
| Mental Retardation |
Mental retardation occurs in children throughout the
world; in its most severe forms it is a source of great hardship to parents as well as an
economic and social burden on the community.
The incidence of mental retardation seems to increase markedly at ages 5 to 6, to peak at
age 15, and to drop off sharply after that. For the most part, these changes in incidence
reflect changes in life demands. During early childhood, individuals with only a mild
degree of intellectual impairment, who constitute the vast majority of mental retardates,
appear to be relatively normal. Their subaverage intellectual functioning becomes apparent
only when difficulties with schoolwork lead to a diagnostic evaluation. When adequate
facilities are available for their education, children in this group can usually master
essential school skills and achieve a satisfactory level of socially adaptive behavior.
Following the school years, they usually make an acceptable adjustment in the community
and thus lose the identity of mental retardates. |
| Click on the following links to know |
|
|
|
|
|
