Mental retardation in children: symptoms, treatment

Overview

Against the background of cognitive abilities defect occurs violation of human activity for a particular age. People diagnosed with a similar feel difficulties in social adaptation, training, work. This disease occurs, on average, 1% of patients. Some scientists attribute mental retardation to a form of mental retardation.

Lag manifests itself in motor skills, speech, social functioning, ability to learn, in cognitive, etc. Against the background of the flow of the disease may occur other mental disorder. Such as a defect can be acquired and hereditary.

Modern medical statistics show that mental retardation occurs in 1-3% of newborns, which is a massive social problem. Unfortunately, modern society is not ready to fully accept patients with such a diagnosis, but the medicine is doing everything possible to facilitate the adaptation of people to improve their quality of life.

Causes

The main factors affecting the dynamic development of the disease in the fetus, also have a direct effect on the body and the expectant mother.

Also, the disease may develop during the first months of life against the backdrop of intoxication, brain injuries, infectious diseases.

Conventionally, all the reasons are divided into genetic (gross chromosomal abnormalities and gene mutations) and external (perinatal, prenatal and postnatal).

The main causes of mental retardation are:

• exposure to toxins and poisons in the body of a pregnant woman;
• infectious diseases transferred during pregnancy, including severe forms flu, rubella etc.;
• fetal infection by protozoa, which are in the body of the expectant mother;
• sharing violation mother materials;
• child injury during his gestation;
• heavy labors (forceps, vacuum, extrusion, hypoxia, asphyxia);
• genetic predisposition for both parents;
• inflammation and brain injury in the baby after birth;
• unfavorable environmental conditions;
• Maternal alcohol, drugs, smoking;
• alcoholism of a parent.

Classification

There are several types of mental retardation:

• IdiocyIn which the level of cognitive development is less than 0.2. These people know the basics of speech, but do not own it. This category of patients may be exclusively under the control of an outsider to eat, personal hygiene, care of themselves.
• debilityWhen the level of mental development is 0.5-0.7. Such individuals belatedly developed motor and mental activity, the majority of children enrolled in special boarding schools for pupils with mental retardation. Under the supervision of strangers, patients are able to perform simple tasks.
• mental retardationIn which IQ is from 0.2 to 0.5. Unfortunately, for independent living, such patients are not adapted, but they give training, are able to perform basic tasks.

symptoms

Symptomatology of mental retardation depends on the form of the disease and the level of human IQ. Rate of disease at an early stage of development symptoms in children is easy. Accurate Diagnosis is a children's neuropsychiatrist. You may need additional consultation pediatrician, neurosurgeon.

Manifestations of the disease:

• Difficulty in training;
• low concentration of attention;
• Patients sharply negative attitude to change the situation;
• antisocial behavior;
• absurd to draw attention to his person;
• shouting spontaneous sounds;
• spontaneous movements;
• convulsions;
• in severe forms - lack of speech;
• difficulties in compliance with the regime of the day;
• restlessness;
• negative behavior;
• partial limb paralysis;
• frequent seizures;
• headaches and dizziness;
• fatigue;
• irregularities in the organs of the body systems.

Diagnostics

The main tasks of diagnosing such diseases are considered early detection of disease, staging and shape deviations, identifying the exact causes.

Is used to diagnose the problem:

• examination by a neuropsychiatrist;
• Counseling psychologist or psychiatrist;
• Assessment of psychomotor development;
• determining the level of IQ;
• Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain, which is done under general anesthesia at the age of three years;
• Computer tomography of the brain;
• encephalogram;
• general analysis of blood and urine.

Often the presence of mental retardation in the fetus results indicate prenatal screening, which is carried out three times over the 40 weeks of pregnancy.

With timely diagnosis of mental retardation and timely measures adopted children who have problems in mental development in the first years of life, well compensate the backlog. According to statistics, 10% of children with an IQ issues to the top of the school period, did not have a developmental delay.

Treatment

Drug therapy involves the use of hormonal agents, Neuroprotective drugs and neuroleptics, tranquilizers and drugs iodine, Magnesium and vitamins of group B.

Additional therapy involves regular sessions with a therapistOr psychoneurologist systematic classes with a speech therapist, as well as periodic courses of massage and physiotherapy.

prevention

The offspring of the planning period must be given a thorough examination of the body, eliminate viral and bacterial infections. You should definitely consult a specialist in genetics and family planning. The survey must be held not only the mother but also the father of the unborn child.

Expectant mother is recommended:

• to refuse from bad habits;
• during pregnancy have regular consultation with a gynecologist;
• for tests, ultrasound pass in each of the three trimesters of pregnancy, do screenings;
• to protect themselves from exposure to environmental factors;
• to avoid the risk of fetal injury.

After giving birth, you must screened regularly by a pediatricianSince the first months of life, from time to time for tests. Parents should be especially attentive to the child, noting any suspicious symptoms. At occurrence of any doubts immediately contact the pediatrician or neurologist.

Forecast

With timely treatment of mild forms of the disease you can achieve a positive result. There are many examples of where patients with mental retardation arrange personal and professional life, fully adaptable to modern society. At medium and severe forms of the disease is provided by a permanent medical and social assistance to the patient, proper supervision and optimal care. During the life of the state of health of these people should be monitored regularly. Unfortunately, Patients with mental retardation early death. Treatment can only maintain a satisfactory condition throughout life.

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