What is a deep mental retardation?
deep mental retardation is the most serious and rare form of retardation. Only about one to two percent of mentally retarded individuals are classified as deep mental retardation, which means that the patient has a score of IQ below 20 to 25. People who are deeply retarded can often do basic daily tasks and never have to learn to communicate effectively. These individuals usually live in highly supervised to help them with their daily needs and ensure that they remain safe. Some conditions that cause mental retardation are inherited, such as fragile X and Down syndrome. Other basic causes include prenatal diseases. Some diseases and problems during pregnancy may be the predecessor of the child to mental retardation, such as fetal alcohol syndrome or complications from her mother's pregnancy, rubel, toxoplasmosis, high blood pressure or glandular problems.
children with deep mental retardation often begin to show symptoms at birth or shortly after, even if the level of retardation may not be properly diagnosed until the child is of school age. Mentally retarded children often have difficulty developing basic skills that are easier for other children such as walking and speaking. Deeply retarded children are usually placed in special classrooms with teachers trained to help mentally retarded children. Children who are deeply mentally retarded can learn some basic skills and their education often focuses on how to respond to situations that could endanger them.
people with a diagnosis of deep mental retardation are not able to work or take care of themselves. They often have difficulty in movement and must use assistants, equipment such as wheelchairs or pedestrians, do. These individuals can rarely communicate effectively through speech and can be spolEat on basic sounds and gestures to communicate their needs and wishes. Carers in group houses and other devices often invent their own communication system with deeply retarded patients.
Most people with deep mental retardation do not manage to change in routine well, and therefore it is often better for them to live in group homes where their everyday life is strongly planned and monitored. Some people with this level of retardation require help with almost every everyday task, including showering and care for basic hygiene, eating and dressing. Members of the family who want to maintain deeply retarded at home often require the help of domestic sisters or other specialists.