Today we are completing our Understanding Special Needs series with our tenth and final section about Mental Retardation.
Let’s start with the statistics. . .
- Mental Retardation first appears in children under the age of 18
- There are four types of mental retardation: mild, moderate, severe, and profound
- Boys are more likely to be mentally retarded than girls
- About 30% of mental retardation cases is caused by hereditary conditions
What exactly defines mental retardation?
It 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. Children with mental retardation may take longer to learn to speak, walk, and take care of their personal needs such as dressing and eating. Mental retardation is diagnosed by the ability of a person's brain to learn, think, solve problems, and make sense of the world and whether the person has the skills he or she needs to live independently. People scoring below a 70 to 75 IQ score are thought to be mentally retarded.
How can teachers help?
Teachers need to realize that about 87% of people with mental retardation will only be a little slower than average in learning new information and skills. As the person grows and learns his or her ability to get along in the world grows as well. Teachers can work with the child because they are able to learn, develop and grow and can have a satisfying life.
A child with mental retardation can do well in school but is likely to need individualized help. You can help the student work on communicating with others, taking care of personal needs, health and safety, home living skills, social skills, reading, writing, and basic math, and workplace skills.
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