STUDENTS WITH MENTAL RETARDATION

MENTAL RETARDATION - is a significantly sub-average general intellectual

functioning, existing concurrently with deficits in adaptive behavior and
manifested during the developmental period that adversely affects a child’s
educational performance.

 May be complicated by physical and emotional problems.

SPECIFIC SYMPTOMS ARE…

 Continued infant-like behavior

 Decreased learning ability
 Failure to meet the markers of intellectual development
 Inability to meet educational demands at school
 Lack of curiosity
Limitations in intellectual functioning – often include difficulties with memory
recall, task and skill generalization, and can demonstrate a tendency towards
low motivation and learned helplessness.
Limitations in adaptive behavior – may include difficulties with conceptual
skills, social skills, and practical skills.
Individuals with mental retardation – also often exhibit deficits in self-
determination skills as well, including skill areas such as choice making,
problem solving, and goal setting.
Mild retardation – may be associated with lack of curiosity and quiet behavior.
Severe mental retardation – is associated with infant-like behavior throughout
life.
THE FOLLOWING MAY INDICATE MENTAL RETARDATION:

 Abnormal Denver developmental screening test

 Adaptive behavior score below average
 Development way below that of peers
 Intelligent quotient (IQ) score below 70 on a standardized test
Mental Retardation in Adolescents
Adolescence and young adults with mental retardation may become stressed.
These persons might not have enough language skills to talk about their
feelings, and their depression may be shown by new problems, for instance in
their behavior, eating and sleeping.
Adolescence – is a particularly important phase for the mentally retarded, since
adolescent turmoil can increase the risk of psychopathology.
HEALTH IMPAIREMENTS – refers to a variety of health problems that dictate
the need for special medical or educational services.
Health Impairments include:

 Convulsive disorders
 Cystic fibrosis
 Asthma
 Rheumatic fever, cancer, AIDS
 Acute health problems
Indivisible disabilities caused by such conditions as:

 Arthritis
 Asthma
 Cancer
 orthopedic limitations
 post-surgery
 chronic fatigue syndrome
 seizure disorder
Characteristics with other health impairments:

 Asthma
 HIV/AIDS
 Sickle-cell disease
 Epilepsy
 Cancer
 Type 1 (juvenile) diabetes
 Cystic fibrosis
ADVOCACY – means being a voice for your child.
Advocate – is an expert who can guide you and your child to get the best
results possible from the special education process.
Older children as self-advocates – depending on their age abilities, children can
advocate for themselves too.
Human reproduction – it is the time of conception and fertilization.
Heredity – is the transmission of genes from one generation to the next of
human characteristics.
Chromosome – must come in 23 pairs.
PRINCIPLES OF GENETIC DETERMINATION
Dominant–recessive genes principle – your dominant human characteristics is
extremely shown while recessive trait is not clearly shown.
Sex-linked genes principle – your human characteristics is influenced by your
femininity or masculinity.
Polygenic inheritance principle – your human characteristics is a mixture of
140,000 genes.
Genotype and phenotype genetic heritage
Genotype human characteristics – it comes from our genes, it does not change.
Phenotype human characteristics – it comes from our environment.
BIOLOGICAL CAUSES OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
Pregnancy – is a critical period of human development.
Pregnant women – are vulnerable to developmental disabilities.
Deafblind – both senses will be reduced enough to cause a significant
difficulties in everyday life.
How to handle:

 Face them when you talk

 Talk slowly and clearly
 Don’t yell