What do you think of when you hear the phrase "mental retardation"? This, for sure, is accompanied by not the most pleasant associations. Many people's knowledge of this condition is mainly based on television shows and films, where real facts are often distorted for the sake of entertainment. Mild mental retardation, for example, is not a pathology in which a person should be isolated from society. Therefore, we often meet such people, but it is very difficult for a simple layman to draw a line between a he althy person and a mentally retarded one.
Introduction
As doctors say, mental retardation is an ailment, the main symptom of which is either acquired (in children under 3 years old) or congenital decline in intelligence. At the same time, the ability to think abstractly is practically absent. But the emotional sphere at thisdisease does not suffer: patients can feel hostility and sympathy, fun and sadness, grief and joy. However, persons with mental retardation do not experience such multifaceted and complex feelings and emotions as he althy people. It should also be noted that this disease is not able to progress. Mental retardation is a stable level of underdeveloped intelligence. Although there were even cases of its increase over time due to the impact of training, society, upbringing.
Causes of mental retardation
A person's intelligence is determined by both environmental and genetic factors. Those children whose parents are diagnosed with mental retardation are already a risk group. They are more susceptible to the development of mental disorders, although it is the genetic transmission as such that is extremely rare. Despite the development of genetics and certain successes in this area, the causes of 70-80% of cases of diseases cannot be established. Most often they are detected in especially severe cases. But still, we offer to understand the most common factors that provoke the occurrence of such a state.
Prenatal causes
Chromosomal abnormalities, genetic and nervous diseases are often the cause of the condition under consideration. Mental retardation is also caused by congenital ailments caused by cytomegalovirus, rubella virus, HIV. The use of drugs, alcohol, and exposure of the fetus to toxins by parents lead to the fact that children are born with mental retardation. exposure to radiation,methylmercury, lead, chemotherapy drugs also sometimes leads to such effects.
Intranatal causes
Complications that are associated with immaturity, prematurity, as well as hemorrhages in the central nervous system, childbirth with forceps, breech presentation, multiple pregnancy, intranatal asphyxia increase the risk of mental retardation. But here a lot will depend on the care of the baby in the first months after his birth.
Postnatal causes
Lack of emotional, physical, cognitive support that is necessary for development, growth, social adaptation, poor nutrition in the first years of life are the most common causes of mental retardation worldwide. The disease can be the result of bacterial, viral encephalitis, meningitis, malnutrition, poisoning, head injuries, and so on.
Degrees of mental retardation
This disease, like any other, has different criteria, thanks to which it is divided into degrees, forms, etc. The classification of this disease is determined by the forms of its manifestation and the degree of flow. The following degrees of mental retardation are distinguished:
- easy, when the IQ level varies between 50-69 points;
- average when scores range from 20 to 49 points;
- severe, in which IQ is less than 20 points.
How is this indicator determined? The patient is asked to take a testthe results of which can be judged on the presence of one degree or another of the disease. Although, it should be recognized that this division is very conditional. Classification should take into account not only the degree of intellectual decline, but also the level of care and assistance that a person needs. The limitation of the ability to communicate, self-service, independence, use of public resources, etc. should not be discounted.
What do the statistics say?
Very interesting is the fact that more than 3% of the world's population lives with an IQ level of less than 70, but only 1% have severe mental retardation. This suggests that a lot of additional factors are taken into account in the diagnosis. Profound mental retardation is observed in children, regardless of their family belonging to a certain social stratum, the education of parents and relatives. And here is another interesting fact. So, oddly enough, moderate mental retardation, in which the patient requires intermittent specific assistance, is more often observed in children from families with a low socioeconomic status.
Symptoms of the disease
As mentioned above, the main symptom of the disease is a decrease in intelligence. However, all symptoms should be considered depending on the degree of the disease. Consider them.
- Easy degree (or debility). In this case, in appearance, a simple layman will never be able toto distinguish a person with mental retardation from a he althy one. As a rule, such people find it difficult to study due to the fact that their ability to concentrate is greatly reduced. But they have a very good memory. Often patients with this degree of illness have deviations in behavior. For example, children with mental retardation depend on educators and parents, they are very afraid of changing the situation. Such patients either withdraw into themselves (hence the difficulties in communication), or, on the contrary, try to draw attention to their person with all sorts of bright actions, as a rule, ridiculous, even antisocial. It is very easy for them to inspire anything. Therefore, such patients attract representatives of the criminal world, they themselves often become victims of fraudsters. A characteristic sign of a mild degree of retardation is that patients are well aware of their ailment, but in every possible way hide it from other people.
- Middle degree (imbecility). Such people are able to distinguish between punishment and praise, experience joy, empathize, they are easily trained in self-service skills, sometimes even writing, reading, elementary counting, but they cannot live on their own. They need constant care and control.
- Severe degree (idiocy). Such people have no speech, they are untrainable, their movements are not purposeful and clumsy. Emotions are limited to elementary manifestations of displeasure or joy. Patients with idiocy need constant supervision, therefore they must be kept in appropriate institutions.
A little more about the symptoms
The first manifestations of the disease include immature behavior, intellectual retardation, insufficient self-care skills. The development of children with mental retardation sometimes goes as expected until the school years. Symptoms are not recognized if there is a mild degree of illness. But the other two degrees are diagnosed, as a rule, very early, especially if they are combined with malformations, physical anomalies. In this case, the disease will simply be diagnosed by preschool age.
At the same time, some children have cerebral palsy, movement disorders, hearing loss, speech delay and other developmental disabilities. Over time, the characteristic of mental retardation "acquires" new symptoms. Children become prone to anxiety, depression, especially if they are rejected or viewed as deficient.
If in kindergartens, children with this disease have difficulties with adaptation, difficulties in observing the daily routine, and elementary tasks seem impossible to them, then schoolchildren with mental retardation should alert their parents to an extremely high degree of restlessness and inattention. Additional reasons for concern for fathers and mothers should be fatigue, bad behavior and extremely low grades for their children.
Forms of mental retardation
Here we come to another classification. In accordance with the international classification of ailments, it is customary to distinguish the following forms of mental retardation:
- Oligophrenia uncomplicated. With this form, the main nervous processes of the child are characterized by balance. Violations in cognitive activity are not accompanied by particularly gross deviations. The emotional sphere is preserved, the child can act purposefully, but only if everything is completely clear to him. When the situation or environment is not new to him, then everything will be normal, you will not see any deviations.
- Oligophrenia with neurodynamic disorders. This form is characterized by instability of the volitional, emotional sphere by the type of lethargy or excitability. Violations inherent in the child are clearly manifested in a decrease in working capacity, in changes in behavior.
- Mental retardation with deviations in the function of analyzers. In oligophrenics with this form of the disease, diffuse damage to the cortex is combined with more severe disorders of one or another brain system. In children, local defects in speech, vision, hearing, and the musculoskeletal system are additionally noted.
- Oligophrenia with psychopathic behavior. This is mental retardation, development in which lags behind due to violations in the emotional-volitional sphere. First of all, in such patients, a decrease in self-criticism, underdevelopment of many personality components, and disinhibition of drives are noted. The child has a tendency to unjustified affects.
- Oligophrenia with pronounced frontal insufficiency. With this form of mental retardation, children are lacking initiative, lethargic, and helpless. Their speech is verbose, imitative,but it has absolutely no content. Children are not able to mentally strain, to adequately assess the current situation.
Examination in case of illness
As we have already said, in most cases, mental retardation manifests itself at an early age. And if the disease is due to genetic causes, for example, Down's disease, then the deviation can be diagnosed even during pregnancy. For these purposes, in antenatal clinics today, all ladies are offered to undergo a screening examination at the earliest stages of pregnancy, so that in the presence of such a pathology it would be possible to make the right decision - to have an abortion or keep the child. Also, this procedure is indispensable in cases where the parents of the unborn baby or relatives have diseases or conditions that can provoke the onset of mental retardation.
Some of the forms of mental retardation occur due to the fact that a certain enzyme system in the baby is underdeveloped. The most common ailment from this group is phenylketonuria. Immediately after birth, babies with this diagnosis are no different from he althy ones, but already during the first months of life they become lethargic, they have frequent vomiting, skin rashes, increased sweating, and it has a specific smell. If you start treatment immediately, before the baby is 2-3 months old, then you can save intelligence. This is why you should never ignore early pediatric screenings.
If the doctor has any doubts, heprescribe a consultation with a neurologist, urine and blood tests, an encephalogram. When examining older children, consultation with a psychologist or psychiatrist is required.
If treatment is started in a timely manner, then, as a rule, it is possible to achieve that the child easily adapts to independent living. But in the case when the parents and other relatives of the baby decide that they can easily do without doctors, I practice self-medication, then the sad consequences are inevitable. Also, do not forget that under the mask of oligophrenia, other ailments can also be hidden - epilepsy, numerous mental illnesses, hypothyroidism.
Children with mental retardation - what to do?
Parents should never panic. Remember that mental retardation is not a mental illness, but a kind of condition when intellectual development is limited due to various reasons.
Education of children with mental retardation is possible, as well as their development, but only as much as biological capabilities allow them to do so. This condition will never fully heal. Of course, the doctor will prescribe the appropriate therapy, but its effect will not be amazing. Although, depending on the degree of oligophrenia, it is possible to achieve certain results through education and training. It should be understood that kids with idiocy and imbecility are disabled children, they even receive pensions. The characteristics of children with mental retardation of these forms are such that they need either a caring guardian or the help of specialists fromappropriate medical institution where they can be assigned. There they carry out therapeutic, corrective, psychological work. Children with a mild degree of oligophrenia are not so difficult. Even despite the fact that they fail to study according to the generally accepted program, and transfer to a special school is necessary. However, there are many difficulties in raising such children, because adequate correction determines future labor and social adaptation. With the right approach, having matured, they simply “dissolve” in life - they work, start families, and feel great in society.
Treatment of mental retardation
Today there is a huge amount of funds intended for the treatment of this condition, but only a doctor should select them, taking into account all the features of the disease. Depending on the cause that caused the disease, it can be hormones or iodine preparations (if oligophrenia is a consequence of thyroid disorders). With phenylketonuria, a special diet will be enough, which the doctor will prescribe.
To correct mental retardation, doctors often prescribe nootropics (Piracetam, Encephabol, Aminalon and others). They are used to improve metabolic processes directly in the brain tissue. Amino acids, vitamins of group B are prescribed for the same purposes. Of course, they can be purchased without a prescription, but only a doctor can determine the appropriateness of use.
If patients with the described diagnosis have abnormalities inbehavior, the psychiatrist selects drugs from the group of tranquilizers or antipsychotics. The key to successful correction is an integrated approach, that is, the use of medications should be combined with classes with speech therapists, psychologists, and a personal approach to education.
In folk medicine, medicinal plants are popular, which have an activating effect on the nervous system. These include Chinese magnolia vine, ginseng, aloe. However, remember that some stimulants for this ailment can provoke behavioral disorders, psychosis. Therefore, before using them, you need to consult a doctor.
You can not discount and social rehabilitation. Such programs are primarily aimed at providing jobs for people with a mild degree of mental retardation. For this, there are special educational institutions with a specific adapted program, where patients can learn simple professions.
Prevention
Prevention of mental retardation is, first of all, a careful and attentive attitude not only to one's own he alth, but also to the he alth of future generations.
As soon as the spouses decide to have a child, both of them need to be comprehensively examined, tested, and visited by genetics. This will allow you to identify and cure existing ailments or conditions, learn about problems that can provoke mental retardation in an unborn child.
When a woman is already pregnant, she must remember the responsibility that lies with her for not evenborn child. So, she needs to adhere to a proper lifestyle, eat well, follow all the recommendations of doctors, avoid exposure to harmful factors, attend antenatal clinic strictly on schedule.
When the child is already born, you should strictly obey the pediatrician in everything and follow all his instructions. And if suddenly the doctor suspects something is wrong and sends you for additional examinations or consultations, you should not try, as they say, to run away from the problem. Indeed, in this case, you can lose precious time, which later you will only regret.
Moreover, medicine does not stand still. For example, vaccines against the rubella virus have helped many couples give birth to a he althy baby, and in fact it used to be almost the main cause of congenital mental retardation. Today, scientists are developing similar drugs against cytomegalovirus to give peace and he alth to parents and their children. The frequency of cases is also decreasing due to the development and growth of neonatal, obstetric care, the use of immunoglobulin, blood transfusions and many other things that until recently could only be dreamed of. The main thing is not to panic, not to give up and try your best, because this is your loved one, whom only you can make happy and return to a full life as much as possible today. Listen to doctors, seek specialized help in time and follow all recommendations.
