Mental Retardation and Its Possible Signs

Mental retardation (MR) is a condition that is diagnosed before the age of eighteen, and is associated with below-average general intellectual function and a lack of the skills necessary for daily living. Studies have found that between 1% and 3% of the population is affected by mental retardation – it has also been found that individuals may exhibit signs of MR at young ages including the following:

• Delays in oral language development
• Deficits in memory skills
• Difficulty learning social rules
• Difficulty with problem solving skills
• Delays in the development of adaptive behaviors (self-help or self-care skills)
• Lack of social inhibitors

Although it is often difficult to pinpoint an exact cause for mental retardation, there are many possible causes for the condition.

Possible Causes for Mental Retardation

The possible causes of mental retardation are numerous; however, the three most common inborn causes are Down syndrome, velo-cario-facial syndrome, and fetal alcohol syndrome. In addition to these possible causes doctors have found other possible triggers for mental retardation, some of which include the following:

• Genetic conditions/ chromosomal defects – abnormal genes inherited from parents, errors when genes combine, or other reasons (one of the most common is Down syndrome).
• Problems during pregnancy (ex: consumption of alcohol)
• Problems at birth (ex: inadequate oxygen levels leading to brain damage)
• Exposure to particular diseases or toxins (ex: meningitis, ex: mercury)

Possible Behaviors Associated With Mental Retardation

Adaptive behavior, also called adaptive functioning, corresponds to the required skills to live independently or at the acceptable level for an individual’s age. In order to assess adaptive behavior, functional abilities of a person are compared with other persons of the same age. These functions include the following, among others:

• Daily living skills, which includes getting dressed, using the bathroom, and feeding oneself.
• Communication skills, which includes understanding what is said and being able to answer.
• Social skills with people surrounding an individual including family members, peers, spouses, adults, and others.

How to Contact a Lawyer Regarding Mental Retardation Lawsuit

The side effects of mental retardation typically last the entire life of an individual and may prevent an individual from ever being independent, even into adulthood. If you or someone you know has had a child born with mental retardation, and believe a possible outside source has caused the condition – you are urged to contact a Chaffin Luhana mental retardation lawyer immediately for a free and confidential case review. You may be entitled to compensation, and a lawyer at Chaffin Luhana can help. Call our toll free number today for a free, no-obligation case evaluation: 1-888-480-1123.