Mental Retardation

Mental Retardation

Mental retardation is a mental disorder affecting an individual’s ability to function. The origins of abnormities of mental retardation are conditioned by biological/medical, and social/environmental factors. According to Crocker (1989), the biological/medical factors that can contribute to mental retardation are hereditary disorders or conditions, early alterations of embryonic development, pregnancy problems and perinatal morbidity, and acquired childhood diseases.

Biological/Medical Components of Mental Retardation

Hereditary disorders and conditions can exist prior to conception in the genotype of the parents. Hereditary disorders that cause mental retardation are infrequent, but the situation is very compelling when it happens. According to Crocker (1989), early alterations of embryonic development that can cause mental retardation are chromosomal changes such as the changes found in Down syndrome, and fragile X syndrome. Down syndrome is caused by having three twenty-first chromosomes instead of two. This abnormality is known as Trisomy 21. According to Hansell and Damour (2008), the physical appearance of someone with Down syndrome is a flat face, upwardly slanting eyes, small mouth, and broad hands. Fragile X syndrome is caused by an abnormality in any one of the X chromosomes. Males who have Fragile X syndrome are mentally retarded with “long faces and large ears, and often are…” (Hansell & Damour, 2008, p. 506). Also noted, girls who have Fragile X syndrome do not from mental retardation like males do, but they tend to suffer from learning disabilities and behavior problems. Pregnancy problems and perinatal morbidity that can cause mental retardation are drug use, fetal malnutrition, and respiratory distress. Acquired childhood diseases that can possibility lead to mental retardation are “infections of the central nervous system, meningitis, and child abuse, cranial injury, near-drowning, asphyxia, and the toxic effects of...