Mental Retardation

                                                                                    (M.R,मानसिक मन्दता)

Introduction

A  child is said to have mental retardation when he is of below average intelligence and has difficulty adjusting to his surroundings. However, just because a child is slow in learning  certain skills do not always mean that he  is mentally retarded.There is a normal variation in achieving the milestones of  development. Some children are slow in picking up a particular skill, but are smart in  all other respects. This could be normal. A child who is retarded is slow in almost all milestones of development.

Sometimes, lack of proper stimulus at the right age  may also delay the process of development in an otherwise normal child. For example, some children who are brought up in institutions may be slow, but as soon as they are adopted, the loving stimulus provided by the adopted parents helps  them progress at an unbelievably rapid pace till they catch up  with other children  of their age.

If you suspect  that your child is slow  in learning new skills, your doctor may like  to see the child  on a few occasions and then decide if he should be referred to a specialist for a expert opinion. The specialist does certain test to asses  the development of the child.

Doctor may also find out if the child has any other handicaps like impaired hearing, visual defects, a specific learning disorder, attention deficit, cerebral palsy etc. This is important to guide you in proper management of your child.

In some cases  the diagnosis of mental retardation  can be made at birth. A child with all the features  of Down syndrome may be diagnosed at birth.  In certain cases, the diagnosis of mental retardation  can be made at birth. In certain cases it may be possible  to suspect retardation at an early age . The handicap may be suspected later from observations by parents, a care taker or a school teacher.

Symptoms

Causes

• Infections (present at birth or occurring after birth)
• Congenital Cytomegalovirus  virus (C.M.V)
• Congenital Rubella
• Congenital Toxoplamosis
• Encephalitis
• HIV Infection
• Meningitis

Guidelines for parents of children with Mental Retardation

Do not feel guilty :

Most parents find it hard to believe and accept a diagnosis  of mental retardation.  Let guilt that you may have inadversly caused the  retardation not add to the burden  of management. You may harm yourself, and your child may not get the care he deserves.

Say to your self : "This child needed me and no body else.": 

Accept that  God gave you your child because he knew you would look after him like no one else.

Be rational :

Don't fall prey to misguided advice and the promise of quick cures. Be guided by your doctor.

Do not over protect your child :

Over protection may unwittingly interfere with  his growth and development.

Do not ignore your spouse and your other children :

Since your special child needs a lot of attention, your husband and other children may start feeling neglected An understanding husband  will respect your feeling and will support you, but you must not forget that  your other children also need you.

Involve your other children in the care of the special child :

No parent lives for ever and your child will out live you.

Education and training are vital :

Let your child start  getting help from experts in the field as soon as possible. Early intervention can make a lot of difference in the ultimate outcome. In some major cities , such expertise is available. If you can't locate such a facility, go to a nearest medical collage or teaching hospital for guidance. A team of expert 

Consider getting your child admitted to a school for normal children :

Let the team of expert decide if your child should be admitted to a school for normal child.

Do attend to a general health of the child :

Make sure your child gets a nourishing diet, proper exercise, enough sleep and a friendly environment. Avoid foods that will make him fat. Also make sure that he gets proper dental care. Some of these children may not chew well, and extra sugar may cause carries of the teeth, as well as add to his weight.

Drugs are often not helpful :

There is no 'brain tonic'  that helps these children. However the expert may prescribe some drugs for tackling certain specific problems

Prefer home care to care in an institute :

More and more people are coming to realize that  special children are better looked after at home rather than in an institution. However, situations can arise when parents find it impossible  to cape with a severely retarded child and institutionalized care may become necessary.

Fear of sexual abuse :

If one has female child with MR be extra careful about the possibility of the child being sexually abused. Avoid leaving the child  alone with the people  who may take advantage of her handicap. Discuss the issue of contraception and menstruation with your doctor.

Discuss with family members and the doctor about whether getting the child's uterus removed is an option to save her the problems of menstruation and to avoid the danger of unwanted pregnancy. Take a well considered decision. Your daughter may need an operation., but parents who feel capable of managing their daughter may decide against it.

Genetic Counselling :

In some cases of MR, there is a possibility that  the next child may have a similar condition. Discuss this with your doctor. Sometimes, the help of a genetic counselor  is needed in such cases.

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