Mental Retardation (Intellectual Disability) By: Cindy Infante Psychology (HONORS)

Causes Mental retardation can be caused by any condition which impairs development of the brain before birth, during or in childhood years. Mental retardation can be caused by any condition which impairs development of the brain before birth, during or in childhood years. Several 100 causes have been discovered, but in about 1/3 of the people affected, the cause remains unknown. Several 100 causes have been discovered, but in about 1/3 of the people affected, the cause remains unknown. Genetic conditionsGenetic conditions Problems during pregnancyProblems during pregnancy Problems at birthProblems at birth Problems after birthProblems after birth Poverty and cultural deprivationPoverty and cultural deprivation Illness or injuryIllness or injury

Target Population Approximately 85% of the mentally retarded population is in the mildly retarded category. Their IQ scores ranges from 50-70, and they can often acquire academic skills up to about the sixth-grade level. Approximately 85% of the mentally retarded population is in the mildly retarded category. Their IQ scores ranges from 50-70, and they can often acquire academic skills up to about the sixth-grade level. About 3% of America’s population suffers from mental retardation About 3% of America’s population suffers from mental retardation

Where & How affects the CNS/PNS Individuals with severe and profound mental retardation are almost always identified at birth or shortly afterward. Most of these infants have significant central nervous system damage. Individuals with severe and profound mental retardation are almost always identified at birth or shortly afterward. Most of these infants have significant central nervous system damage. Mental Retardation reduced sweating, reduced thyroid function, brain malformation (corpus collosum malformation) Mental Retardation reduced sweating, reduced thyroid function, brain malformation (corpus collosum malformation) Infant feeding problems Infant feeding problems Tooth abnormalities Tooth abnormalities Sunken chest Sunken chest Fine hair Fine hair Small penis Small penis Low set ears Low set ears Thin skin Thin skin Prominent forehead Prominent forehead

Symptoms Decreased learning ability Decreased learning ability Lack of curiosity Lack of curiosity Inability to meet educational demands of school Inability to meet educational demands of school Mild retardation may be associated with a lack of curiosity and quiet behavior Mild retardation may be associated with a lack of curiosity and quiet behavior Sever mental retardation is associated with infantile behavior throughout life. Sever mental retardation is associated with infantile behavior throughout life.

Prognosis The prognosis for individuals with mild to moderate mental retardation is usually good. These individuals can often become self-sufficient to some degree. However this does consist of educational, community, social, family, and vocational support. The prognosis for individuals with mild to moderate mental retardation is usually good. These individuals can often become self-sufficient to some degree. However this does consist of educational, community, social, family, and vocational support.

Treatment/Cure Special education and training Special education and training Educators Educators Language therapists Language therapists Behavioral therapists Behavioral therapists Occupational therapists Occupational therapists It’s best to treat this disorder at an early stage in life like infancyIt’s best to treat this disorder at an early stage in life like infancy

Cases Milton Mathis was sentenced to death for the murder of Travis Brown The two men were shot to death in their home in Houston, Texas. Mathis was 19 at the time. The victims were shot in the head Police believed the motive for the shootings was robbery. Milton Mathis was sentenced to death for the murder of Travis Brown The two men were shot to death in their home in Houston, Texas. Mathis was 19 at the time. The victims were shot in the head Police believed the motive for the shootings was robbery. Mathis was subsequently tried by a jury and convicted of capital murder. The jury then returned answers to special issues submitted under the Texas Criminal Code, which required imposition of the death penalty. On September 21, 1999, the trial court entered the judgment and sentence of death. On February 13, 2002, the Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the conviction. Mathis was subsequently tried by a jury and convicted of capital murder. The jury then returned answers to special issues submitted under the Texas Criminal Code, which required imposition of the death penalty. On September 21, 1999, the trial court entered the judgment and sentence of death. On February 13, 2002, the Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the conviction. In their petition to the court for a stay of execution, Mathis' court-appointed lawyers argued that executing Mathis would violate the eighth amendment's prohibition against executing the mentally retarded. They cited an abundance of evidence pointing towards Mathis meeting the criteria for mental retardation as set out in the landmark Supreme Court ruling Atkins v. Virginia. In Atkins the Court concluded that "the Constitution places a substantive restriction on the State's power to take the life of a mentally retarded offender." In their petition to the court for a stay of execution, Mathis' court-appointed lawyers argued that executing Mathis would violate the eighth amendment's prohibition against executing the mentally retarded. They cited an abundance of evidence pointing towards Mathis meeting the criteria for mental retardation as set out in the landmark Supreme Court ruling Atkins v. Virginia. In Atkins the Court concluded that "the Constitution places a substantive restriction on the State's power to take the life of a mentally retarded offender."

Organizations/Medical Facilities University of Maryland Medical Center University of Maryland Medical Center Sarah Bonwell Hudgins Foundation Sarah Bonwell Hudgins Foundation

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