Symptoms and Signs of Mental Retardation

In general, the symptoms of mental retardation include poor speech, memory difficulties, difficulties in acquiring social roles, difficulty in problem solving ability, difficulty in learning ability or school education needs, achievement of intellectual development Failure, and lack of social deterrence.

However, the symptoms of mental retardation depend on the severity of the symptoms. For example, signs of mild retardation (ie people with an IQ of less than 52-79) may include lack of curiosity and quiet behavior, but signs of severe mental retardation (ie, IQ is about 20 to 35 years old ) May include the entire patient's lifetime. There is such behavior on the way, and those with low mental retardation (ie IQ below 19) may have limited exercise and communication skills and may require lifelong care I do not think so.

Mild mental retardation: Children from birth to 6 years old acquire social skills and communication skills, but exercise capacity has declined slightly. In the second half of puberty, they usually read the sixth graders. They can usually acquire appropriate social skills and adults can often work and support themselves.

Moderate intellectual disability: Children under 6 years of age can talk and communicate, but social consciousness is usually low. Their movement adjustment is fair and young people can learn some professional and social skills. Adults can sustain themselves and continue their work from time to time, although guidance and assistance are often required during stressful times.

Severe mental retardation: Infants with this disease have limited language ability. The adjustment of their movement is very bad. Teenagers can communicate with other people and learn simple habits, but there are many cases where lifelong guidance and daily activities are necessary.

Deep intellectual disorder: Infants with this degree of mental retardation rarely have motor coordination, and often require attention that can last a lifetime. Youth sports and communication skills are limited

The limit of low IQ score and adaptive skill is a characteristic of mental retardation. Attackability, self-injurious behavior and emotional disorder are sometimes associated with disability. The severity of symptoms and the first age to appear depends on the cause. Milestones in the development of mentally handicapped children are much behind schedule. If delay is caused by a chromosome or other genetic disorder, it will be obvious from the time of baby. If childhood illness or injury causes a stunt, skills that were easy to learn and adapt suddenly may become difficult or impossible to suddenly master.

Rare single cause effects of more than 100 rare cause diseases include mental retardation of the symptoms (Walhsten, 1990). Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a typical example of a single genetic cause of severe mental retardation. The recessive gene responsible for PKU is necessary and sufficient to cause this condition in the case of normal diets containing phenylalanine. (Meals with low phenylalanine content can avoid developing damage to the brain caused by accumulation of phenylalanine metabolites, which can not be broken down by people of PKU.) PKU is very rare It affects about 10,000 people One of them. In 1991, vulnerable X mental retardation was shown to contain a single gene on the X chromosome (Verkerk et al., 1991). It is the most common cause of mental retardation after Down's syndrome, and chromosomal abnormalities usually occur naturally rather than genetically. Still, vulnerable X mental retardation is very rare, with an incidence of about 1 in 1,250 men and 1 in 2,500 women.

The American Mental Retardation Association (AAMR) has developed another widely accepted diagnostic classification system for mental retardation. The AAMR classification system focuses on the abilities of people with mental disabilities. It is not his or her limit. These categories represent the level of support required. They are: Intermittent support; limited support; extensive support and universal support. To some extent, the AAMR classification reflects the DSM-IV-TR classification. For example, intermittent support is probably sometimes needed assistance during stress and crisis for people with intellectual disabilities. This is a type of support that most people with mild mental retardation normally require. On the other hand, for very late people there is a need for general support or lifelong support for most areas of adaptation. The AAMR classification system refers to "intelligent function less than average" as an IQ of 70 to 75 or less.