Cause of ID

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Causes of Intellectual Disability:-

causes of mental retardation

·         Genetic factors: - About 30% of cases of ID are caused by hereditary factors.

                    It may be established by genetic factors in two ways.-

1)      Through transmission of some defective genes in the chromosomes of one or both parents. It is often the results of pairing of two defective genes. When defective recessive genes are paired, as in PKU (phenylketonuria), the production of an enzyme, necessary for an hour important metabolic process, is usually disturbed. It affect on the embryo and causes I.D.

2)      On account of chromosomal aberration. - Down’s syndrome or mongolism is one such disorder which is said to be caused by chromosomal aberration. The most prevalent genetic condition includes Down’s syndrome, klinefelter syndrome, fragile x syndrome, PKU, William syndrome, prader-willi syndrome, neurofibromatosis, congenital hypothyroidism.

·         Infection: - it can also be the result of many infectious diseases like syphilis, rubella, toxoplasmosis and encephalitis which can damage brain tissue and the nervous system. If the mother suffers from any one of these diseases, she may transmit infection to the developing fetus.

·         Problem during pregnancy: - a pregnant person who drinks alcohol or drug use, malnutrition, certain infections like rubella or preeclampsia may also have a baby with intellectual disability. According to a survey, 3000 child affected because of fetal alcohol syndrome, due to using alcohol by mother.

·         Problem during childbirth: - if baby born extremely premature, or has problems during labor such as not getting enough oxygen, he or she may have developmental disability due to brain damage.

·         Intoxication: - A number of toxic agents like carbon monoxide, mercury, lead and various immunological agents like anti- tetanus serum or the use of small pox, rabies and typhoid vaccine may result in brain damage during development after birth.

Similarly, region of the pregnant mother.

·         Socio-psychological factor:- children’s who are denied the satisfaction of their Psychological and social needs become over- sensitive to Psychological stress, or lack of adequate mothering and parental care results in retarded.

In socio-cultural environment, the children are deprived of the basic necessities of life for their proper physical, intellectual, emotional and social development. A poverty ridden, deprived, crowded and uncongenial family environment provides sufficient as well as necessary grounds for the germination and perpetuation of mental sub- normality.

-          Ignored or neglected infants who are not provided with the mental and physical stimulation required for normal development may suffer irreversible learning impairment.

-          Children who live in poverty and suffer from malnutrition, unhealthy living conditions, abuse and improper or inadequate medical care are at a high risk.

Clinical types of mental retardation;-

·         Cretinism: - This intellectual disability ranging from moderate to severe retardation results from ' thyroid deficiency'.

-          Severity of this disorder depends the age at which it occurs.

-          Physical shape- dwarf-like, thick-set body, coarse and thick skin, short and stubby extremities, abundant hair of wiry consistency and thick eyelids that gives a sleepy appearance.

-          Broad flat nose, large and flabby ears a protruding abdomen and failure to mature sexually.

·         Microcephaly: - Associated with ‘failure of cranium' to attain normal size on account of the impaired development of the brain.

-          They has an unusual small head which rarely exceed a circumference of seventeen inches, (normal child have 22 inches approx.)

-          They are short statured with the usual cone shaped skull and receding chin and forehead.

-          Fall into the profound, severe or moderate categories.

-          Both genetic and non-genetic factors cause brain.

-          No proper medical treatment.

·         Hydrocephaly: - Results from the accumulation of an unusual ‘large amount of cerebrospinal fluid within the cranium'.

-          Causing damage to the brain and enlargement of the skull.

-          Gradually increase in the size of skull.

-          Causing seems to be genetic and non-genetic.

·         Phenylketonuria (PKU):- it has a genetic base transmitted through a recessive gene carrying metabolic disturbance.

-          At birth, lacks an enzyme needed to breakdown phenylalanine, an amino acid found in protein food. Thus, the accumulation of phenylalanine in the blood causing damage to brain tissue.

-          Symptoms such as vomiting, a peculiar musty odor, infantile eczema and seizures, motor incoordination, signs of mental retardation.

·         Amaurotic idiocy: - Rare hereditary disorder of fat metabolism transmitted. It has two different forms- infantile and juvenile.

-          Major symptoms include- muscular weakness, inability to maintain normal posture, loss in the ability to grasp objects, visual difficulties progressive to blindness.

-          Its infantile form, also known as ' tay-sachs’ diseases.

-          Common among infants, appears at about 6 months of age, and death occurs between the ages of 2-3 years.

-          Juvenile amaurotic idiocy occurs at 5-6 years of age and patient may live up to thirteen years.

·         Mongolism: - (down ‘syndrome) the facial characteristics match to members of the Mongolian race.

-          The retardation in them ranges from moderate to severe (IQ approx. 20-50)

-          Look short in stature with small round heads, short neck, thumbs and fingers with almond shaped eyes, short flat nose, small mouth, fissured and dry lips and lounge. Hands and feet’s are broad and clumsy.

-           They have a deep voice.

-          Motor coordination is awkward.

-          Some of them can learn self-help skills, acceptable social behavior.

-          Causes are faulty hereditary, metabolic factors (glandular imbalance often involving pituitary glands).

-          There is no effective treatment or prevention.

Treatment:-

v  Genetic counseling and voluntary birth control: - chromosomal aberrations as well as pairing of defective recessive genes prove it for normal brain development cause. Test may help to identify the problems and should control the birth.

v  Proper care of mother and child:-  in fetal alcohol syndrome, pregnant women shouldn’t drink alcohol, getting proper care, taking prenatal vitamins and getting vaccinated against certain infectious diseases can also lower the risk of I.D. child.

v  Providing normal and stimulating environment after birth: - Great need for educating the parents and others, and then they give the children normal as well as stimulating environment for the proper growth and development. Illiteracy and poverty of the parents and poor environment shouldn’t come in the satisfaction of basic needs.

v  Provision of special education and training to subnormal’s:- intervention programs that assess children. In such training schools, help them in basic skills as bathing, feeding, extracurricular activities and social programs also needed.