Mild Mental Retardation

When it comes to neurocognitive disorders and neurodevelopmental disorders, reaserchers have been able to diagnose symptoms of a variety of disorders pertaining to the brain and growth development. Once knowing what the symptoms are behaviors become noticed and there becomes a reason for certain behaviors in individuals allowing different treatments for these disorders..

There are many reasons why someone would have a cognitive disability. The disability usually shows up before the age of eighteen, and the sooner it is diagnosed the better the outcome will be. These factors are associated with cognitive disabilities learning, reasoning, and problem solving. There are different kinds of cognitive disabilities such as mild to severe cognitive disability. A child IQ and adaptive behavior is what essentially diagnoses the child with cognitive disability. Cognitive disability is a common disability in the Unites States. Most people can remain independent living their lives unless they are diagnosed with a severe form. If the child can’t perform normal activities of daily living, then they will need assistance with living alone.

This paper will identify the various aspects of how developmental disability can be defined, how many people are estimated to experience DD, the long-term and short-term management of DD and a client with a developmental disability can receive affective counseling, treatment and different intervention approaches to assist in the enhancement of the individual’s life. Each state may have slightly varied definitions of DD. For example, the State of Ohio’s labeling and definition of DD has evolved from mental retardation to developmentally disable to what it is now called, “Intellectual disability”. (Ohio Department of Education, [34 CFR δ300.8© (6)].

Mental retardation is one of the few disorders that is usually present at birth and persists throughout life" (Hansell & Damour, 2005, p.441).

Subsequently, if developmental delays are identified in the assessment process it may suggest that the child is experiencing

In order for a student to be diagnosed for any disability, there is a process that involves many people that are important in the child’s life. The school must conduct tests that measure the child’s academic success in the classroom, as well as tests that measure IQ (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children), work samples, developmental history (usually get this information from the parents), physical exams (vision, hearing etc.), psychological tests, adaptive skills (BASC) and other areas as needed. Testing is usually done by professionals from various disciplines. In order to qualify for special education services under IDEA, the disability must impact the child’s ability to be academically successful (IDEA, 2004).

There are many forms of mental retardation. Webster’s New World Dictionary defines mental retardation as “a condition, usually congenital, characterized by subnormal intelligence” (Agnes, p404). Mental retardation can be caused by a certain birth defect due to a traumatic event during the mother’s pregnancy, or mental retardation can also be inherited. The most common inherited form of mental retardation is Fragile X Syndrome.

The most common form of inherited mental retardation (MR) is Fragile X syndrome. The mutation of the gene completely turns off and does not produce the protein needed to make certain all other genes function properly. It is linked to other disorders. There are many characteristics connected to Fragile X. For example, neurological, physical, and psychiatric. The cognitive and behavioral attributes are more significant since they affect how the child will learn and function. Fragile X children are oversensitive to noise and the activity going on nearby. They will often throw tantrums and be aggressive (Braden, M., n.d.). Although, this syndrome does not have a cure these children may be helped with early intervention. Methods of

Most recent studies have shown that between 1-3 percent of Americans have intellectual disabilities. Many factors are involved with the cause of intellectual disabilities such as physical, genetic and social. A few common genetic conditions are Down Syndrome, Fragile X Syndrome and Prader-Will Syndrome. It is important for maternal mothers to understand that their health is critical to a child's intellectual development and for them to recognize pre & postnatal factors. Maternal Mothers who are exposed to radiation, chronic alcoholism, and severe emotional stress during pregnancy could all be risk factors for intellectual disability. It is critical that parents recognize any intellectual delays in cognitive development at an early onset. Intervention is more effective at an earlier stage of development manly ages 3-4 when child is beginning cognitive and developmental growth. Based on the DSM 5 intellectual disability is a disorder with onset during the developmental period that includes both intellectual and adaptive functioning deficits in conceptual, social, and practical domains. Intellectual disabilities is not based on IQ, but on extensiveness of needed support services.

The first step in any research is to accurately define the population of interest. Intellectual Disability (ID) has been called by many different terms: mental retardation, learning disability, mental handicap, and developmentally delayed. Generally, these terms are accepted as interchangeable (Schalock, Luckasson & Shogren, 2007). However, over time some of the characteristics required to receive a diagnosis of ID has changed. In the recent past, the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Metal Disorders Text Revised (DSM IV TR) identified three criteria necessary to be diagnosed with ID. This included: impairments of intellectual functioning (IQ<70) are not necessarily excluded from the diagnosis. By deemphasized the importance of low IQ the as a defining feature of ID the diagnosis expanded its definition to include individual assessed with borderline intelligence and above (fact sheet reference).

The articles describe these learners as having difficulties with abstract thinking and categorizing as well as applying their learning to new situations. There is difficulty with the transfer of information. Use of language is concrete. These students often can only follow single step directions and their sentence development is simple rather than complex. It also points out that there are behavioral and emotional issues that accompany this disability. This population often has emotional outburst due to frustrations and lack of understanding of the expectations. Socially, they may struggle to maintain friendships and do not always understand social cues and rules. “Extensive research evidence reveals that the social skills of students with mild intellectual disabilities tend to be improved when they are provided with appropriate supports and included in general education classroom with age appropriate peers” ( McLeaskey, Rosenberg ,Westling,

Some things that someone can do, and some changes that may be made at home or at a place of work to provide support that encourages individual independence of a person who may have cognitive disabilities is to provide accommodations according to their needs. Some people with cognitive disabilities do not have reduced intellectual functioning and some may have intellectual functioning disabilities at different levels. In order to help make the accommodations there should be support in place to encourage them and help to make the accommodations a reality. Some accommodations that can be useful may include: schedule planning, communicating by using a clear approach and a short summary, and clear step-by-step tasks and directions that are easy

What are the advantages of using the classification of developmental delay for a student referred for early childhood special education services?

Future consideration: As the patient has learning difficulties and intellectual disabilities, he needs more supports for learning. A comprehensive neurophysiologic and developmental evaluation3 can give him a big hand. A developmental evaluation is needed for physical, occupational, speech and behavioural therapies3. This can stimulate the patient to develop his full potential. Psychotropic medications

Mental Retardation is common in children with WAGR. The severity of mental retardation ranges from severe to mild and varies from person to person.