Also known as intellectual disability, it is affecting 1% of the population, because it is a cognitive disability, not a mental illness, which is characterized by limiting the mental development of the individual to the point that communication is difficult, either in the family or in society, comes to have no aspirations or goals, and even alters the physiological needs of the same, it can be said that mental retardation is more prevalent after 18 years.
Mental retardation and its classification
In addition to limiting the individual emotionally, physically and psychologically, it is also measurable by means of a scale that calculates intelligence, a normal individual must have results greater than 70 on said scale, if it is below it is already considered as mental retardation.
Marginal
From 50-70 according to the intelligence calculation, the individual is able to socialize, have a job, be with the family, be independent, because the motor disability is minimal, not noticeable, and does not even require help, but in situations risk, stress and financial problems, if you may need help, or tragically seek other avenues such as alcohol, drugs or even worse suicide. All this is due to a minimal mental retardation, which can make it difficult to carry out the activities mentioned, and it is there that their disability is made known more widely. The most affected people are children from 0 to 5 years of age.
Moderate
From 35-50 according to intelligence calculation, the individual in addition to being able to study and lead a normal life with adequate language, is capable of writing and reading, but does not have the ability to understand, this disability will be latent at the time of interpreting the little knowledge retained, and on some occasions they will move only to known places so it is not recommended that they live alone. This classification of cognitive disability affects 10% of the population, and they live to approximately 55 years of age.
Grave
From 20-35 according to intellectual calculation, the individual in childhood is not capable of learning to speak, if not from preschool age, that is where he can express a series of words, but with considerable difficulty, it will also be able to perform supervised work, because the level of mental retardation is considered, even if they cannot be independent. They affect 4% of the population, and their age of life varies between 40-45 years if they are not born with a motor disability.
Deep
From 20-0 according to intellectual calculation, mostly the individual suffers from a neurological disease, which makes it difficult for him to speak, dress, eat, among others. He suffers from other pathologies such as heart and motor diseases, he is a dependent human being due to his mental and neurological disability. This level of mental retardation affects 2% of the population and the age of life is very short.
Does not specify
This level of mental disorder is little known, since according to the test or mental calculation it is not capable of evaluating the degree of intelligence required to demonstrate that it has the disability, but the individual does have a series of motor characteristics that distinguishes it with the delay mentally, they can lead to a normal supervised life and are able to work, if the company allows it.
Mental retardation and its pathologies
These cognitive disabilities are subject to heredity, developmental disorders, biochemistry and genetics, which is why all diseases or syndromes where an alteration in the individual's chromosomes prevails results in mental retardation.
Prader-Willi syndrome
This syndrome is characterized by the loss of the segment of the arm (q) of chromosome 15 of paternal origin, the individual with this pathology in addition to presenting facial features such as a small nasal septum and a thin upper lip, an increase in mass may also be noted bodily. In earlier times they confused this pathology with obesity, it affects 1 in 15.000 children in the world and is not transmitted from generation to generation.
Rett syndrome
Severe progressive neurological disorder, linked to the X chromosome, this syndrome is known only in girls and develops from the first months of life, until 6 months where they completely lose speech and do not have motor skills. It is not common in living children since they die in spontaneous abortions, it is a non-hereditary disease and a cure has not yet been achieved.
Síndrome de Down
Caused by the alteration of chromosome 21 produced by a trisomy, which causes mental retardation from mild to profound levels and 1 in 600 children is born with this pathology. All mothers are able to have a child diagnosed with Down syndrome, but at 40 years of age there is a greater risk during pregnancy.
Asperger's syndrome
Autistic characteristic disorder, the individual has difficulty with behavior, this leads them to not socialize, they are very intelligent but only feel attuned to specific issues, their motor disability is notable and they tend to adopt movements stereotypes.
Fragile X syndrome
Caused by a single gene on the X chromosome. It is considered as the promoter of hereditary mental retardation, it affects both genders, but with greater intensity in boys, since in girls the syndrome acts in a moderate way, they are characterized by having cognitive disability, language delay and suffer from seizures repeatedly.
How to diagnose mental retardation
Through intelligence tests, the value of an intelligence calculation can be determined, this can be through the test, which consists of asking several questions, and then analyzing the answers, and obtaining a result, which can be observed in the classification of mental retardation described above.
Heredity and genetics play a very important role in these disabilities, it is important to ask family members if they have suffered from any antecedent, or mental and motor disability, throughout their genealogical tree, this will help rule out any genetic disease or delay mental.
In the case of having children, it is important to know if the child has a cognitive disability, so the attitudes and development of the child must be taken into account. Some examples will be mentioned to guide you more easily.
- Trouble communicating
- Concentration problems.
- Difficulty moving.
- After 11, it is difficult for him to stand.
- After 9 months he does not crawl.
- Difficulty memorizing texts.
- After 8 months do not sit, even if you support yourself.
- After 4 months of life, he cannot keep his head steady.
The main objective is to always maintain a supervision of the growth process of children, to be able to determine at an early age, if they have mental retardation.