People who have mental retardation feel, think, and hope, just like everyone else. Despite their limitations, they have more similarities with others than they have differences.

Isn't retardation a type of mental illness?

No, mental retardation and mental illness are separate conditions, though both require understanding and treatment as early as possible.

Mental Illness:

Mental Retardation:

Can be temporary like many other illnesses
Occurs most often in early adult and middle years
Does not necessarily interfere with strictly intellectual abilities
Can be treated by counseling, medication, surgery

Is usually a lifelong condition
Usually occurs at or near birth—almost always recognized by school age
Is characterized by slow intellectual development
Can be treated through educational techniques and therapy

What causes Mental Retardation?

Any condition, illness, or injury that interferes with the mental development before, during, or after birth can cause mental retardation. These can be either physical or social.

Physical: hereditary factors, disorders in body chemistry, poor prenatal care, injuries to mothers-to-be or infants, etc.

Social: lack of mental stimulation, physical abuse, poverty, discrimination and other nonmedical conditions.

Degrees of Mental Retardation

There are three factors in classification:

Mental Ability (intelligence quotient)
Adaptive Behavior (social quotient)
Physical Development

Diagnosis is individualized and often complex. It must include careful study and observation of a child by qualified professionals, as well as tests for intelligence and adaptive behavior.

Degree	Developmental Characteristics
Degree	Preschool 0-5 years	School age 6-20 years	Adult 21 and over
Mild I.Q. 51-70 (includes the majority of people with mental retardation	Often not diagnosed until later age	Learns academic and prevocational skills with some special training	Lives and works in the community. May not be easily identified as having retardation.
Moderate I.Q. 36-50	Fair motor development. Can learn to talk and care for basic needs.	Learns functional academic skills and can be independent in familiar surroundings.	Performs semi-skilled work with support. May achieve competitive employment.
Severe I.Q. 21-35	Slow motor development and some communication skills. May have some physical disabilities.	Can talk or learn to communicate. Cares for personal needs.	Can contribute to self-maintenance with supervision in work and living situations.
Profound I.Q. 20 or less	Overall responsiveness is minimal. Often has physical disabilities.	Motor development is slow. May be taught basic self-care skills.	Some communication skills. Cares for basic needs and performs highly structured work activities.

Degrees of Mental Retardation

Degree

Developmental Characteristics