Intellectual Disabilities Mental Retardation and Autism Brynn and Kacy

Mental Retardation Definition  “significantly sub average general intellectual functioning, existing concurrently with deficits in adaptive behavior and manifested during the developmental period, that adversely affects a child’s educational performance.”  Intellectual disability is characterized by significant limitations in intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior. This disability originates before the age of 18.  Intellectual disability is the preferred term for mental retardation

Causes  Genetic conditions  Problems during pregnancy  Problems at birth  Health problems  Certain diseases can cause an intellectual disability  Extreme malnutrition  Not getting proper medical care  Being exposed to certain poisons  Unexplained reasons  Only 25% of causes have a known reason

Diagnosis  Diagnosed by looking at a child’s mental abilities (IQ) and their adaptive skills  Can be difficult because the child may not display any physical indicators  The first indicator is normally when a child does not achieve developmental milestones within the usual time frame  87% are only slightly slower than average in learning new information and skills. Their limitations may not be obvious until they get to school

Tests Used for Diagnosis  Intelligence Quotient (IQ) test  Tests used to test adaptive behavior  Revised Denver Prescreening Developmental Questionnaire  Denver Developmental Screening Test  Kansas Infant Development Screen  Many others

Types of Mental Retardation  Mild  Approximately 85%  IQ scores range from  Can often acquire academic skills up to the 6 th grade level  Can become fairly self-sufficient and in some cases live independently with support.

Types of Mental Retardation  Moderate  About 10%  IQ scores range from  Can carry out work and self-care tasks with moderate supervision  Typically acquire communication skills in childhood  Able to live and function successfully within the community in a supervised environment

Types of Mental Retardation  Severe  3-4%  IQ scores range from  Master very basic self-care skills and some communication skills  Profound  1-2%  IQ scores range from  May be able to develop basic self-care and communication skills with appropriate support and training  Often caused by an accompanying neurological disorder

Treatments and Medications  Treatments are not designed to cure the disorder  Therapy goals are to reduce safety risks and teach appropriate life skills  Interventions are based on the specific needs of the individuals and their families, with the main goal of developing the persons potential to the fullest  No specific medications

TR Implications  The main goal is to develop interventions that assist individuals in developing the functional skills necessary for participation in leisure pursuits  TR should focus on development of cognitive skills, and increasing physical, social, and emotional development related to leisure participation

Autism Definition  Autism is a general term used to describe a group of complex developmental brain disorders known as Pervasive Developmental Disorders  1 in every 110 children is diagnosed with Autism  An estimated 1.5 million individuals in the US are affected by Autism

Diagnosis  Boys are far more likely to develop Autism and are diagnosed 3 to 4 times more frequently.  In the US 1 out of 70 boys are diagnosed  No medical test for Autism  Diagnosis is based on observed behavior as well as educational and psychological testing  If a parent is concerned about their child, their child should be referred to a specialist for developmental evaluation. The specialist will use Autism-specific screening tools, such as the Modified Checklist of Autism in Toddlers

Causes of Autism  No one really knows what causes Autism  There are most likely multiple factors that contribute to the cause  Researchers are studying the causes and have multiple theories, but no one really knows for sure  One thing that is known is that it is NOT caused by bad parenting as was used to be believed 

Symptoms  Differences and disabilities in many areas including social communication, fine and gross motor skills, and sometimes intellectual skills  It is characterized by social impairments, communication difficulties, and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior  A baby with ASD may be unresponsive to people or focus intently on one item to the exclusion of others for long periods of time  Repetitive movements such as rocking and twirling, as wel as self-abusive behavior such as biting or head-banging are common  Children with ASD also tend to start speaking later than others and speak in third person 

Types of Autism  Classic Autism  Rhett Syndrome  Asperger Syndrome  Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS)  Childhood Disintegrative Disorder

Medication  Medication is used to treat ASD related symptoms  Anxiety  Depression  Obsessive-compulsive disorder  Seizures  Attention Deficit Disorder  Antipsychotic medications are used to treat severe behavioral problems

Treatment  Treatment is a very intensive, comprehensive undertaking that involves the child’s entire family and a team of professionals  Involves multiple hours per week of therapy  Addresses behavioral, developmental, and educational goals  Each challenge must be addressed with an appropriate form of therapy  No single therapy works for every child

Treatment Options  Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA)  Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT)  Verbal Behavior Therapy (VBT)  Floortime  Relationship Development Intervention (RDI)  Teaching and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped children (TEACCH)  Many others

TR Implications  TR can help people with ASD improve social and interpersonal skills  People with ASD relate poorly to people and have difficulty understanding how other people feel. Leisure activities and therapeutic recreation can play a significant role in helping with that

Autism Speaks  Autism Speaks is the world's leading autism science and advocacy organization, dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families.  Their website is a wonderful tool to help and support families of children with Autism