Mental or Intellectual Disability

on

 



What is a Mental disability or Mental retardation?



Introduction: 




Once called retardation, is characterized by below-average intelligence or capacity and a scarcity of skills necessary for day-to-day living. People with mental disabilities can and do learn new skills, but they learn very more slow. There are varying degrees of mental disability, from mild to advance.




Mental disability involves problems with general mental abilities that affect functioning in below-mentioned areas:

 


  • Intellectual functioning like learning, problem solving, judgment and decision making, etc.

  • Adaptive functioning activities like lifestyle, communication skills, and independent living and taking care of him/herself, etc.


 

To measure a child’s adaptive behaviors, a specialist will observe the child’s skills and compare them to other children of an equivalent age. 

 

The things which will be observed include how well the kid can feed or dress himself or herself; how well the kid is in a position to speak with and understand others and the way of communication; and the way the kid interacts with family, friends, and other children of an equivalent age to measure the mental disability.

 

Mental disabilities assumed to affect about 1% of the population of these affected, 85% have mild intellectual disability. 

 

This suggests they're just a touch slower than average to find out new information or skills. With the proper support, most are going to be ready to live independently as adults.

 

  

Signs of Mental disability?

 

There are many various signs of mental disability in children. Signs may appear during infancy, or they'll not be noticeable until a toddler reaches school age. 

 

It often depends on the severity of the incapacity. A number of the foremost common signs of mental disability are:

 



  • Rolling over, sitting up, crawling, or late mobility.

  • Talking late or having trouble with talking

  • Slow to master things like toilet training, well dressing, and feeding himself or herself

  • Difficulty remembering things

  • Inability to attach actions with consequences

  • Behavior problems like explosive tantrums

  • Difficulty with problem-solving or reasoning

  • Language development

  • Reasoning and mathematical problem

  • Issues solving

  • Planning and organizing

  • Abstract and different thinking ability

  • Judgment and taking decision

  • Academic learning and adaptability

  • Learning from experience and behaviors

  • In children with severe or profound intellectual disability, there could be other health problems also. These problems may include seizures, mood disorders issues, anxiety, autism, etc., motor skills impairment, vision issues, or hearing problems.


Causes of Mental disability?


 

Anytime something interferes with normal brain development, mental disability may result. However, a selected cause for Mental disability can only be pinpointed a few third of the time.

 

 The most common causes of mental disability are:

 


  • Genetic conditions. These include things like mongolism and fragile X syndrome.

  • Problems during pregnancy. Things that will interfere with danger brain development include alcohol or drug use, malnutrition,  and certain infections.

  • Problems during childbirth. Mental disability may result if a baby is bereft of oxygen during childbirth or born extremely premature.

  • Illness or injury. Infections like meningitis, pertussis, or the measles can cause mental disability. Severe head injury, near-drowning, excess malnutrition, infections within the brain, exposure to toxic elements like lead, and severe neglect or abuse also can cause it.

  • None of the above. In two-thirds of all children who have intellectual disabilities, the cause is still unknown.

  • Some sorts of infections. Prenatal exposure to alcohol and medicines is entirely preventable. Even drinking three drinks each day during pregnancy can cause fetal alcohol syndrome. FAS may be a leading explanation for intellectual disabilities. 

  • It's not clear what proportion of alcohol is safe. Therefore, most doctors recommend pregnant women don't drink. Other drugs also harm a developing fetus. This includes nicotine, cocaine, and heroin. 

  • While pregnancy a female should tell her doctor if she uses alcohol or drugs. Her doctor could also be ready to help her reduce the risks to her unborn child.


How is Mental disability diagnosed:


Mental disability could also be suspected for several different reasons. If a baby has physical abnormalities that suggest a genetic or disorder, a spread of tests could also be done to verify the diagnosis.

 

"These include blood tests, urine tests, imaging tests to seem for structural problems within the brain, or electroencephalogram to seem for evidence of seizures".

 

In children with growth delays, the doctor will perform tests to rule out other problems, including hearing problems and certain neurological disorders. 

 

If no other cause is often found for the delays, the kid is going to be referred for formal testing.

 

The first indication of a Mental disability (formerly mental retardation) is typically a child's physical and behavioral characteristics. Once a Mental disability is suspected, a proper evaluation and assessment begins.

 

The evaluation begins with an entire physical examination. a radical review of medical record identifies any physical or medical causes of the troubling symptoms. Some medical conditions that cause ID are often treated effectively. 

 

However, even reversible conditions require immediate attention. This is often because prompt attention reduces the danger of lasting brain damage.

 

Hyperthyroidism is an example of a treatable condition which will cause a Mental disability if not treated promptly. 

 

If a neurological explanation for the symptoms is suspected, the kid is mentioned as a neurologist for further testing.

 

"Intellectual disabilities are defined by two major symptoms. First, there are limitations in mental abilities. Second, there are limitations in adaptive functioning or life skill sets". 

 

These life skills include imagination, social, and practical skills. Therefore, a medical evaluation is simply the start of the assessment process. a radical assessment usually includes the following:  

 


  • Comprehensive medical exam;

  • Possible genetic and neurological testing;

  • Social and familial history;

  • Educational history;

  • Psychological testing to assess intellectual functioning;

  • Testing of adaptive functioning;

  • Interviews with primary caregivers;

  • Interviews with teachers;


Social and behavioral observations of the kid in natural environments

 

As mentioned, intellectual functioning and adaptive functioning are the first diagnostic criteria. We discuss various tests wont to assess intellectual functioning and adaptive functioning. 

 

Since remarkable limitations in these two areas are the defining features of mental disabilities, these tests are essential to the diagnostic process.

 

 

Levels of Mental disability:

 

Mental disability is split into four levels, support your child’s IQ and degree of social adjustment.

 

 a. Mild intellectual disability:

 

 Some of the symptoms of mild mental disability include:

 


  •  Taking longer to find out to speak, but communicating well once they are skilled enough

  • Being fully independent in self-care once they grow old

  • Having problems with reading and writing skill

  • Increased difficulty with the responsibilities of marriage or after getting the child's

  • Having an IQ range of 50 to 69


 

b. Moderate Mental Disability:

 

 The moderate Mental disable, they'll exhibit a number of the subsequent symptoms:

 


  • They are slow in understanding and using language

  • They May have some difficulties with communication and understanding

  • They can learn basic reading, writing, and counting.

  • They are generally unable to measure alone

  • They can often get around on their own to familiar places

  • They can participate in various sorts of social activities

  • They generally have an IQ range of 35 to 49


 

c. Severe Mental Disability:

 

  The symptoms of severe mental disability are:

 


  • Noticeable motor deficiency

  • Generally having an IQ range of 20 to 34


 

d. Profound Mental Disability:

 

 Symptoms of profound mental disability are:

 


  • Inability to know or suits requests or instructions

  • Possible stillness

  • Very basic nonverbal communications

  • Inability to worry for his or her own needs independently

  • The need of constant help, supervision and guidance

  • Having an IQ of but 20


 

 

Can Mental disability be prevented?

 

Certain causes of Mental disability are preventable. the foremost common of those is fetal alcohol syndrome. 

 

Pregnant women shouldn’t drink alcohol. Getting proper prenatal care, taking a prenatal vitamin, and getting vaccinated against certain infectious diseases also can lower the danger that your child is going to be born with intellectual disabilities.

 

In families with a history of genetic disorders, genetic testing could also be recommended before conception.

 

Certain tests, like ultrasound and amniocentesis, also can be performed during pregnancy to seem for problems related to intellectual disability. 

 

Although these tests may identify problems before birth, they can't correct them.

 

How can I do to help my mentally disabled child?

 

Steps to assist your intellectually disabled child include:

 


  • Learn everything you'll about intellectual disabilities. The more you recognize, the higher advocate you'll be for your child.

  • Encourage your child’s independence. Let your child try new things and encourage your child to try to things by himself or herself. Provide guidance when it’s needed and provides regeneration when your child does something well or masters something new.

  • Get your child involved in group activities. Taking a course or participating in Scouts will help your child build social skills.

  • Stay involved. By keeping in-tuned together with your child’s teachers, you’ll be ready to follow his or her progress and reinforce what your child is learning at college through practice reception.

  • Get to understand other parents of intellectually disabled children. they will be an excellent source of recommendation and emotional support.


 

 

 

 











Comments

Post a Comment