2. Introduction
Mental retardation is a state of
developmental deficit that begins in
childhood and result in significant limitation
of intellect and poor adaptation to the
demands of every day life. Several terms such
as mental handicap, mental deficiency, mental
subnormality and so on have been used to
denote this condition.
3. Definition
“Mental retardation is
defined by deficits in general
intellectual functioning and
adaptive functioning (APA, 2000).
4. General intellectual functioning is measured by
an individual’s performance on intelligence
quotient (IQ) tests.
Adaptive functioning refers to the person’s ability
to adapt to the requirements of daily living and
the expectations of his or her age and cultural
group.
5. Meaning
Mental retardation is not a disease but a
condition in which the intellectual faculties
are never manifested or have never been
developed sufficiently to enable the
retarded person to acquire such an amount
of knowledge as persons of his own age and
placed in similar circumstance with him-
self are capable of receiving.
6. Epidemiology
About 20 million people with mild an d 4 million
with moderate and severe mentally retarded .
Highest incidence in school age children with
peak at ages 10 to 12.
Twice as common, in boys and girls.
7. Classification of mental retardation
Four types of mental retardation depending on IQ and
adaptive behavior.
(Ability to Perform Self-Care Activities
Cognitive/Educational Capabilities
Social/ Communication Capabilities
Psychomotor Capabilities)
Mild Mental Retardation.
Moderate Mental Retardation.
Severe Mental Retardation.
Profound Mental Retardation.
8. Mild Mental Retardation: (IQ 50 to 70).
Constitutes about 85% of the total mentally
retarded.
Motor and sensory deficits are slight.
Usually develop normal language abilities and
social behavior.
Can achieve academic level up to 6-8th
standard.
Usually belong to low socioeconomic, class.
9. Moderate Mental Retardation: (IQ 35 to
50)
about 10% of all the mentally retarded come
under this category.
earlier called as “trainable”.
They can be trained to speak and support
themselves by performing semiskilled or unskilled
work under supervision.
10. Severe Mental Retardation: (IQ 20-35)
account for about 7% of the mentally retarded.
In the preschool years, their development is
usually greatly slowed.
They are called the “dependant”.
As adults, they can undertake simple tasks and
engage in limited activities.
11. Profound Mental Retardation: (IQ below
20)
Less than 1% mentally retarded.
Very few of them learn to care themselves
completely.
Some eventually achieve some simple speech and
social behavior.
12. Etiological Implications
Five major predisposing factors have been identified:
1. Hereditary factors
2. Early alterations in embryonic development
3. Pregnancy and prenatal factors
4. General medical conditions acquired in infancy or
childhood
5. Environmental influences and other mental
disorders.
13. Hereditary Factors
Hereditary factors are implicated as the cause in
approximately 5 percent of the cases.
These factors include inborn errors of metabolism,
such as Tay-Sachs disease, phenylketonuria, and
hyperglycinemia.
Also included are chromosomal disorders, such as
Down syndrome and Klinefelter’s syndrome, and
single-gene abnormalities, such as tuberous sclerosis
and neurofibromatosis.
14. Early Alterations in Embryonic Development
Prenatal factors that result in early alterations in
embryonic development account for approximately
30 percent of mental retardation cases.
Damages may occur in response to toxicity
associated with maternal ingestion of alcohol or
other drugs.
Maternal illnessesand infections during pregnancy
(e.g., rubella, cytomegalovirus)
Complications of pregnancy (e.g., toxemia,
uncontrolled diabetes) also can result in congenital
mental retardation
15. Pregnancy and Perinatal Factors
Approximately 10 percent of cases of mental
retardation are the result of factors that occur during
pregnancy (e.g., fetal malnutrition, viral and other
infections, and prematurity) or during the birth
process.
Examples of the latter include trauma to
the head incurred duringthe process of birth, placenta
previa or premature separation of the placenta, and
prolapse of the umbilical cord.
16. General Medical Conditions Acquired in Infancy
or Childhood
General medical conditions acquired during infancy
or childhood account for approximately 5 percent of
cases
They include
infections, such as meningitis and encephalitis;
poisonings, such as from insecticides, medications, and
lead;
physical trauma, such as head injuries, asphyxiation,
and hyperpyrexia
17. Environmental Influences and Other Mental
Disorders
Between 15 and 20 percent of cases of mental
retardation are attributed to deprivation of
nurturance and social, linguistic, and other
stimulation, and to severe mental disorders, such as
autistic disorder
23. Clinical Picture
Mouth - small mouth and teeth, furrowed tongue
(longitudinal cracks and grooves over the tounge),
high arched palate.
Eyes-oblique palpebral fissures, epicanthic folds
Head – flat occiput
Hands – short and broad, curved with fingers, single
transverse crease (single crease extends across the
palm of the hand ).
Joints – hyper extensibility or hyper flexibility,
hypotonia (low muscle tone), poor Moro reflex
24. Effects of Mental Retardation on
the Family
Distress, feelings of rejection.
Depression, guilt, shame or anger
Rejection of child.
Overindulgence.
Social problems.
Marital disharmony (in some).
Burden of care for their child.
Dissatisfaction about medical and social services
(even when they are normal).
25. Diagnosis of mental retardation
History
General Physical Examination
Detailed Neurological Examination
Mental Status Examination
Investigations
Routine
Urine examination
Blood Test
Chromosomal Studies
Endocrinol
Liver Function tests
EEG
CTScan of Brain
Developmental Assessment
26. Differential Diagnosis
Delayed maturation
Blindness or other sensory defects.
Childhood psychosis
Childhood autism
Severe neuroses.
Systemic disorders with physical handicap.
Deprived children with insufficient
stimulation.
Epilepsy.
States due to the side effects of drugs
28. Primary Prevention
Health Promotion
Good antenatal care and encouraging deliveries in
hospitals under proper supervision and care
Improving the socioeconomic status of the country.
Education of the public to help in early detection of
mental retardation and also, to, remove various
misconceptions about its causes and treatment.
Facilitating research to identify the causes, and to
invent new methods of treatment.
29. Cont………….
Specific Protection
Good parental, natal and postnatal care the pregnant
mothers at risk.
Genetic counseling to at risk patients
Avoiding childbirths in late age of the mother
Avoiding consanguinal marriages
Avoiding marriages of mentally retarded
30. Secondary Prevention (Early Diagnosis and
Treatment)
Early detection and treatment of the preventable
disorders
Amniocentesis and medial termination of pregnancy
on medical grounds.
Early detection of correctable disorders.
Prevent them against abuse
31. Tertiary Prevention
Disability Limitation
Treatment of physical and psychological problems
Institutionalization of severe mentally retarded or
those with psychological problems.
Education (if educable) and training to avoid
handicaps.
Physiotherapy to treat the associated deficits.
Rehabilitation
32. Counseling to Parents
The causation, prognosis of mental retardation.
To educate mothers and families in caring for the
mentally handicapped
Special supervision for the physically
handicapped or those severely and profoundly
mentally retarded.
Treatment of psychological problems in parents.
33. Hospitalization
Indications
Attention deficit disorders with hyperkinesis
destructive, assaultive behavior.
Psychosis
Organic psychosis
Social factors
Over crowding
Incompetent parents
Mentally retarded or psychotic parents
Single parenthood
No one to look after
34. Nursing management
Impaired verbal communication related to delayed
development of milestones.
Attention deficit related to mental retardation
impaired cognitive function.
Self care deficit by difficulty in grooming, nutrition,
hygiene related to impaired cognitive functions.
Impaired health maintenance related to cognitive
impairment
Social isolation related to impaired personal
relationships
Ineffective coping related to mentally retarded
child.
35. Reference
Dr.K.Lalitha,”MENTAL HEALTH AND PSYCHIATRIC
NURSING AN INDIAN PERSPECTIVE”, 2nd
edition,
Bangalore: V.M.G. Book House, 2008,pg no:529-534
Dr.Kapoor.B, “ TEXTBOOK OF PSYCHIATRIC NURSING”,
vol II, 1st
edition,Delhi: Kumar publishing house,2006, pg no:208-
213
Sreevani R, “A Guide To Mental Health Psychiatric
Nursing”, 2nd
edition, Jaypee publication,
New Delhi. Pg no. 104-108
