By : Haley Boyd January 7, 2012 Parenting Child Development

Mental retardation is a generalized disorder appearing before adulthood, characterized by significantly impaired cognitive functioning and deficits in two or more adaptive behaviors.

Mental retardation can be caused by any condition which impairs development of the brain before birth, during birth or in the childhood years. Several hundred causes have been discovered, but in about one-third of the people affected, the cause remains unknown. The three major known causes of mental retardation are Down syndrome, fetal alcohol syndrome and fragile X.

It is formally diagnosed by professional assessment of intelligence and adaptive behavior. Mental retardation is a condition diagnosed before age 18 that includes below-average general intellectual function, and a lack of the skills necessary for daily living.

Continued infant-like behavior Decreased learning ability Failure to meet the markers of intellectual development Inability to meet educational demands at school Lack of curiosity

An assessment of age-appropriate adaptive behaviors can be made using developmental screening tests. The failure to achieve developmental milestones suggests mental retardation. The following may be signs of mental retardation: Abnormal Denver developmental screening test Adaptive behavior score below average Development way below that of peers Intelligence quotient (IQ) score below 70 on a standardized IQ test

The primary goal of treatment is to develop the person's potential to the fullest. Special education and training may begin as early as infancy. This includes social skills to help the person function as normally as possible. It is important for a specialist to evaluate the person for other affective disorders and treat those disorders. Behavioral approaches are important for people with mental retardation.

The outcome depends on: Opportunities Other conditions Personal motivation Treatment Many people lead productive lives and function on their own; others need a structured environment to be most successful.

Complications vary. They may include: Inability to care for self Inability to interact with others appropriately Social isolation

Call your health care provider if: You have any concerns about your child's development You notice that your child's motor or language skills are not developing normally Your child has other disorders that need treatment.

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