Exceptional Children and Disability Information
Mental Retardation
The topics listed below are individual websites that can be accessed only by members of The National Association of Parents with Children in Special Education (NAPCSE). If you are not a member of NAPCSE, and would like to join, click here to register. Members of NAPCSE, please log in above (member login and password) to activate these, and all other websites, in our database.
Mental Retardation Topic Categories
Introduction to the NAPCSE Mental Retardation Page
Mental retardation is a term used when a person has certain limitations in mental functioning and in skills such as communicating, taking care of him or herself, and social skills. These limitations will cause a child to learn and develop more slowly than a typical child. Children with mental retardation may take longer to learn to speak, walk, and take care of their personal needs such as dressing or eating. They are likely to have trouble learning in school. They will learn, but it will take them longer. There may be some things they cannot learn.
Doctors have found many causes of mental retardation. The most common are:
- Genetic conditions. Sometimes mental retardation is caused by abnormal genes inherited from parents, errors when genes combine, or other reasons. Examples of genetic conditions are Down syndrome, fragile X syndrome, and phenylketonuria (PKU).
- Problems during pregnancy. Mental retardation can result when the baby does not develop inside the mother properly. For example, there may be a problem with the way the baby's cells divide as it grows. A woman who drinks alcohol or gets an infection like rubella during pregnancy may also have a baby with mental retardation.
- Problems at birth. If a baby has problems during labor and birth, such as not getting enough oxygen, he or she may have mental retardation.
- Health problems. Diseases like whooping cough, the measles, or meningitis can cause mental retardation. Mental retardation can also be caused by extreme malnutrition (not eating right), not getting enough medical care, or by being exposed to poisons like lead or mercury.
Mental retardation is not a disease. You can't catch mental retardation from anyone. Mental retardation is also not a type of mental illness, like depression. There is no cure for mental retardation. However, most children with mental retardation can learn to do many things. It just takes them more time and effort than other children.
NAPCSE offers it members hundreds of comprehensive and practical resources on mental retardation including:
- Modifying the elementary school curriculum for students with special needs: There are many simple modifications which can be made to assist students with disabilities in the regular classroom. Many of them are not that time consuming and can make a world of difference.
- Modifying behaviors in children with developmental disabilities: One of the best approaches to use to modify behaviors for mild to severe mentally disabled children is to use behavioral objectives.
- Gentle teaching techniques for children with mental retardation: This is the home page of a non-violent approach for helping children and adults with special needs
Adults with Mental Retardation
- Aging with MR : Older adults with developmental disabilities are living longer than ever before. Most have the ability to live happy, productive lives in their communities. Like other older adults, it is critical for adults with developmental disabilities to receive regular vision screening to identify age-related changes and eye diseases that can have an impact on their independence, safety, and quality of life.Hearing changes with age : People who have mental retardation and other developmental disabilities are not only living productive lives within communities across the country, but they are also living longer. Like others who reach their later years, older people with developmental disabilities are at risk for acquiring a number of age-related chronic conditions. One of the more common conditions among older adults is hearing loss. Regular hearing evaluations are important to identify losses in hearing that make it difficult for older adults to communicate in work, social and interpersonal situations. Adult curriculum : Adult mental retardation curriculum- an example from the state of Maine.
- Employment of people with mental retardation : Based on the 1990 census, an estimated 6.2 to 7.5 million people in the United States have mental retardation. Mental retardation is 12 times more common than cerebral palsy and 30 times more prevalent than neural tube defects such as spina bifida. It affects 100 times as many people as total blindness.
- Self-advocacy : For many people across the country and around the world, involvement in the self-advocacy movement has built self-confidence, supported self-determination, and provided opportunities for learning about and contributing to their communities and their countries. National organizations involved in advocacyThe Arc: The Arc of the United States works to include all children and adults with cognitive, intellectual, and developmental disabilities in every community. The Arc Mercer: Part of the mission of The Arc Mercer is to advocate for individuals with mental retardation and/or developmental disabilities. By advocacy, we mean working for an individual to help enhance his or her quality of life, whether that means providing services and programs, training for employment within the community or helping to secure specific policies and programs that benefit them and their families. Mental Health Alliance of Pennsylvania: The association provides advocacy programs for mentally retarded persons and a greater emphasis on programs that empower consumers of services to advocate for changes in the service-delivery system.
- Legal Rights of Persons with Mental Retardation : From Texas-an example
- Newborn screening : Newborn screening identifies biochemical or other inherited conditions that may produce mental retardation, other disabilities and/or death. Babies are screened for these conditions during the newborn period. These conditions are identified using tests on blood collected from a heel stick onto filter paper.Psychiatric assessment for the person with mental retardation: The psychiatrist who does not specialize in mental retardation and developmental disabilities typically has had little or no exposure in medical school or residency training to the special diagnostic and therapeutic issues posed by this population,1 yet many psychiatrists will be called on, at some time, to evaluate and treat individuals with mental retardation, often in crisis situations requiring emergency admissions or in inpatient facilities. It is essential, therefore, that psychiatrists acquire the basic tools needed for assessment and treatment planning at the interface of mental retardation and psychiatric disorders. Assessment and treatment: a vast resource of links on all topics of mental retardation Screening for mental retadation/cogniitive abilities-Pdf file: Many parents who are reported to the child welfare system and/or lose custody of their children are of limited intelligence or are mentally retarded. The definition of mental retardation is having an IQ (Intelligence Quotient) of 70 (75) or below. This problem is generally identified during childhood and will persist throughout the person’s life.
- Assessing cildren for the presence of a disability: This resource list provides school systems with information on assessment of school-aged children. The books and articles listed below may be useful to schools as they plan assessments of individual students to determine if they have a disability and, thus, are eligible for special education and related services.
- For people with MR : Assistive technology is the term used to describe devices that are used by children and adults with mental retardation and other disabilities to compensate for functional limitations and to enhance and increase learning, independence, mobility, communication, environmental control and choice. It also refers to direct services that assist individuals in selecting, acquiring or using such devices Creating a technology toolkit for students with mental retardation: Several frameworks have appeared in the literature to assist education professionals in creating effective matches between the needs of students with disabilities and technology that may help students with disabilities to be successful in the school environmentAssitive technology and mental retardation: Assistive technology is the term used to describe devices used by people with mental retardation and/or other disabilities that help compensate for functional limitations and increase learning, independence, mobility, communication, environmental control and choice. This term also refers to direct services that assist individuals in selecting, acquiring or using such devices.
- Assistive technology with cognitive disabilities: over 50 great sites and links to assistive technology.
Audio/Video
- Newborn screening video tape: 1 OUT OF EVERY 1,500 BABIES born in the United States has a disorder detectable through newborn screening! Forty-three years after the first newborn screening tests no federal standards or guidelines exist to help states manage newborn screening programs. As a result many children fall through the cracks of a scattershot system, failing to receive the critical tests that could save their lives.
- Mental Retardation
- Psychiatric and Behavioral Disorders in Developmental Disabilities and Mental Retardation
- Mental Retardation in America: A Historical Reader
- Mental Retardation: A Lifespan Approach
- children with Mental Retardation: A Parent’s Guide
- Mental Retardation: Definition, Classification, and Systems of Supports
- Handbook of Mental Retardation and Development
- Equal Treatment for People with Mental Retardation: Having and Raising a Child
- The Mental Retardation and Developmenta Disability Treatment Planner
- Genetics and Mental Retardation: A New Look at behavior and Interventions
- The Kennedy Family and the History of Mental Retardation
- Teaching Students with Mental Retardation: A Life Goal Curriculum Planning Approach
- Teaching Students with Mental Retardation: Providing Access to the General Curriculum
- Early Communication Skills for Children with Down Syndrome
- Down Syndrome Quarterly
- Disability Solutions
- Down Syndrome Amongst Us
- Causes : Mental retardation can start anytime before a child reaches the age of 18 years. It can be caused by injury, disease, or a brain abnormality. These causes can happen before a child is born or during childhood.Lead poisoning: Lead poisoning is one of the most common environmental child health problems in the United States and is caused by too much lead in the body. Lead is especially harmful to children younger than 6, but anyone who eats, drinks or breathes something which has too much lead can get lead poisoning. PKU: PKU, which stands for Phenylketonuria, is an inherited metabolic disease (also called an inborn error of metabolism) that leads to mental retardation and other developmental disabilities if untreated in infancy. With an inborn error of metabolism, the body is unable to produce proteins or enzymes needed to convert certain toxic chemicals into nontoxic products, or to transport substances from one place to another (Glanze, 1996). Diseases:Prior to widespread immunization in the United States, infectious diseases killed or disabled thousands of children each year. The near elimination of mental retardation due to measles encephalitis, congenital rubella syndrome, and Haemophilus influenzae type b meningitis, or Hib, can be contributed to vaccines HIB disease: Hib, which stands for Haemophilus influenzae type b, is not a disease itself, but is the name of a bacterial microorganism that causes several serious, often life-threatening illnesses, one of which -- bacterial meningitis -- may cause mental retardation in young children. Genetic issues: An introduction to genetics and mental retardation
- Overview, causes and risk factors: Causes of mental retardation are numerous, but a specific reason for mental retardation is determined in only 25% of the cases.
- Mental retardation-typical characteristics
- Characteristics of cognitive development: Cognitive development is defined as thinking, problem solving, concept understanding, information processing and overall intelligence. Many persons with fragile X syndrome have some cognitive weaknesses.
- Prader-Willi
- Reyes Syndrome
- Fragile X
- Why it occurs
- Mosaic Down Syndrome
- Epilepsy and Down Syndrome
- Pre-natal screening
- Adults with DS
- Occupational therapy
- Why physical therapy
- Speech/language therapy
- ADHD and DS
- FactsTerminology
- Overview of DS 0-5 years
- Overview of DS 5-11 years
- Overview of DS 11-16 years
- Living with DS
- World wide organizations
- Parent Matching and Support Groups
- Conferences
- Inclusion and Education Related Resources
- Trisomy 21: The Story of Down Syndrome
- Mosaic Down Syndrome
- Down Syndrome: Frequently Asked Questions
- National Down Syndrome Society
- Videos
- Overview General information
- What is Down Syndrome?
- Education and schooling
- Life Planning
- Genetics and Down Syndrome
- Directories-Organizations by State
- Down Syndrome: Caring for a Baby With Down Syndrome
- Speech And Language Skills In Infants, Toddlers and Young Children With Down Syndrome
- Life skills: A primary purpose of special education is to help students with disabilities lead successful and personally fulfilling lives now and in the future. Curriculum for students with mental retardation should be designed to prepare students to function as independently as possible in an integrated society. This curriculum should include a broad range of skills and be chronologically age-appropriate and useful to the learner.Physical fitness: Physical fitness is generally defined in two parts: The first part defines fitness as a physical condition that allows an individual to perform daily activities and still have enough energy for leisure activities. For example, if an individual is unable to make it through an eight hour work day or is too tired at the end of the day for leisure or household activities such as gardening, walking, playing tennis or cleaning, then the individual probably has a low level of physical fitness. Problem solving skills training: Training in problem solving skills can be useful for persons with mental retardation and mental illness who are likely to have problem solving deficits. Of special interest is training to improve social or interpersonal problem solving, in contrast to cognitive problem solving. Training in social problem solving is often part of cognitive-behavioral treatment "packages" such as Valenti-Hein and Mueser's Dating Skills Program and Benson's Anger Management Program.Medical problems in the classroom-good overview: Here are a few short reports on various medical problems in the classroom. The papers cover medical conditions that occur in school-age children with varying degrees of frequency. Each report describes the ailment, its treatment and modifications for the classroom teacher.
- Teaching life skills to students with mental retardation: A primary purpose of special education is to help students with disabilities lead successful and personally fulfilling lives now and in the future. Curriculum for students with mental retardation should be designed to prepare students to function as independently as possible in an integrated society.
- What is mental retardation : Mental retardation is characterized both by a significantly below-average score on a test of mental ability or intelligence and by limitations in the ability to function in areas of daily life, such as communication, self-care, and getting along in social situations and school activities. Mental retardation is sometimes referred to as a cognitive or intellectual disability...read more
- AAMR definition: Mental retardation is not something you have, like blue eyes, or a bad heart. Nor is it something you are, like short, or thin.It is not a medical disorder, nor a mental disorder.
- DSM diagnosis: A diagnosis of mental retardation carries with it certain unique treatment needs that must be understood and addressed. Unfortunately, most psychiatrists are ill-equipped to handle this situation, having received little or no formal training in this area. This article is written with the specific goal of giving psychiatrists a better understanding of the special needs of patients with mental retardation and strategies for improving their quality of life.
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What is Fragile X?
- Fact Sheet
- How is Fragile X Syndrome Inherited?
- Characteristics of Fragile X Syndrome
- Genetic Testing for Fragile X Syndrome
- Intervention for Problems Associated With Fragile X Syndrome
- Medical Follow-up and Pharmacotherapy
- What is the Cause of Fragile X Syndrome?
- Education
- Books and videos on Fragile X
- Families and Fragile X Syndrome
- FAQ
- fact sheet
- from the ARC-excellent
- history of events
From the National Institutes of Health (Kleinfelter's Syndrome)
- Understanding Klinefelter Syndrome: A Guide for XXY Males and their Families (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development)
Diagnosis/Symptoms (Kleinfelter's Syndrome)
- Testosterone Test (American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
Clinical Trials-Click Here (Kleinfelter's Syndrome)
Specific Conditions (Kleinfelter's Syndrome)
- Patient's Guide to Low Testosterone (Endocrine Society, Hormone Foundation)
- Sex Chromosome Variations: About 47XXY (Klinefelter Syndrome and Associates)
Genetics (Kleinfelter's Syndrome)
- Genetics Home Reference: Klinefelter syndrome (National Library of Medicine)
- Chromosomal Abnormalities (March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation)
Organizations (Kleinfelter's Syndrome)
- Klinefelter Syndrome and Associates
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Teenagers (Kleinfelter's Syndrome)
- Delayed Puberty (Nemours Foundation)
- Information from the Medical Encyclopedia on Klinefelter's Syndrome
- metabolism and DS
- dermatological disorders and DS
- blood disorders and DS
- celiac disease and DS
- obstructive sleep apnea
- medical concerns
- heart defects
- gastrointestinal issues
- hepatitis B
- use of bicycle helmets
- neural tube defects
- genetic testing
- myths
- genetic discrimination
- protecting genetic controversy
- gene therapy
- overview of genetic research
- National Down Syndrome Congress
- National Down Syndrome Society Web
- International Mosaic Down Syndrome Association
- The Arc
- AAMR
- TASH
- CEC
- Family Village
Overview of Mental Retardation
- symptom and a syndrome
- introduction
- fact sheet on MR
- children with MR
- introduction
- overview: a symptom and a syndrome
- good overview for parents
- ERIC overview
- toilet training
- issues of sexuality
- for new parents
- family support
- parents sharing stories
- respite care
- Individual service coordination
- sibling issues
- forming a Trust-Financial concerns
- leisure and community integration
- sibling issues
From the National Institutes of Health (Prader-Willi Syndrome)
- Genes and Disease: Prader-Willi Syndrome (National Center for Biotechnology Information)
Overviews (Prader-Willi Syndrome)
- Questions and Answers on Prader-Willi Syndrome (Prader-Willi Syndrome Association)
Clinical Trials (Prader-Willi Syndrome)
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Prader-Willi Syndrome (National Institutes of Health)
Nutrition (Prader-Willi Syndrome)
- Prader-Willi Food Pyramid (Prader-Willi Syndrome Association)
Disease Management (Prader-Willi Syndrome)
- Prader-Willi Syndrome Weight & Behavior Management (Prader-Willi Syndrome Association)
Coping (Prader-Willi Syndrome)
- My Child Has Prader-Willi Syndrome, Now What? (Prader-Willi Syndrome Association)
- Someone You Know Has Prader-Willi Syndrome (Prader-Willi Syndrome Association)
Related Issues (Prader-Willi Syndrome)
- Patient's Guide to Low Testosterone (Endocrine Society, Hormone Foundation)
- Speech and Language and Prader-Willi Syndrome (Prader-Willi Syndrome Association)
Genetics (Prader-Willi Syndrome)
- Genetics Home Reference: Prader-Willi syndrome (National Library of Medicine)
- Genetics of Prader-Willi Syndrome: An Explanation for the Rest of Us (Prader-Willi Syndrome Association)
Dictionaries/Glossaries
- Glossary of Terms That May Appear in Literature about Prader-Willi Syndrome (Prader-Willi Syndrome Association)
Organizations (Prader-Willi Syndrome)
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
- Prader-Willi Syndrome Association
Information from the Medical Encyclopedia (Prader-Willi Syndrome)
- Prader-Willi Syndrome
- how common
- Clinical Features of Turner Syndrome (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development)
Overviews (Turner Syndrome)
- Endocrinology and Turner's Syndrome (Endocrine Society)
- Frequently Asked Questions about Turner Syndrome (Turner's Syndrome Society of the United States)
Clinical Trials (Turner Syndrome)
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Turner Syndrome (National Institutes of Health)
Research (Turner Syndrome)
- Newly Mapped Gene for Ruptured Heart May Lead to Life-Saving Treatment (American Heart Association)
Genetics (Turner Syndrome)
- Genetics Home Reference: Turner syndrome (National Library of Medicine)
- Genetic Features of Turner Syndrome (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development)
Directories (Turner Syndrome)
- Turner's Syndrome Society of the US: Local Chapters (Turner's Syndrome Society of the United States)
Organizations (Turner Syndrome)
- MAGIC Foundation
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
- Turner's Syndrome Society of the United States
Children (Turner Syndrome)
- Turner Syndrome (Nemours Foundation)
