MENTAL RETARDATION

A Condition - Not an Illness or a Disease

Mental retardation is a condition where the person shows limitations in his/her level of performance of activities of daily living, age appropriately. The limitations are also noticed in the person in the areas, general understanding, social competence and in adaptive behaviours.

Mental retardation varies greatly from child to child, depending on the

• degree of its condition, mild to severe and profound,
• differing levels of performance in each child, marginal or high functioning,
• type, whether it is a child with Microcephaly, Hydrocephaly, Down's Syndrome or with any other associated disability or condition

Some children may

• have difficulties in letting others know their wants and needs, or in taking care of themselves.
• be slower than children of the same age in learning, such as taking a longer time to learn to speak as also slower in their other developmental areas, walking, dressing, or eating without help.

Such developmental lags could become more and more noticeable in the children's school going years.

It may manifest itself either during pregnancy or at birth or at any time before the child turns 18 years old.

AUTISM

A Disabling Condition

Autism, is a condition which typically appears during the first 3 years of the child's life.

It is seen in different forms along the developmental range. Hence it is also referred to as, autism spectrum disorder.

A typical development for any child takes place along the spectrum,from birth through infancy and early childhood years where the child progresses along the developmental milestones.

A child with autism may look just like any other child but may have distinctive behavior patterns which make the child stand apart from others

Autism is characterized by impaired social interaction, problems with verbal and nonverbal communication, and unusual, repetitive, or severely limited activities and interests

Around 75-80% of persons with autism display behaviours similar to those by persons with mental retardation; 15-20% persons have severe difficulties in adaptive behaviours and 10% have average intelligence. A few also show exceptional intelligence.

Even when the child has a normal or high I.Q there are specific areas in which the child is affected, particularly in the areas, socialisation and communication. Nearly, 50% of children with autism do not speak, while others may develop speech but still have difficulty using the exact language to communicate.

Autism Spectrum Disorder(ASD) refers to the different positions, any where along the developmental spectrum where at each position, the disorder may manifest itself, each manifestation with its own characteristics, in degree, type or level, from mild to severe, but globally referred to as the 'autism' condition or a pervasive developmental disorder.

In the broad spectrum of the disorder, the condition of autism has certain distinguishing characteristics ranging from mild to disabling.