Definition
The most widely employed definition of mental retardation is that given by the American Association on Mental Retardation: " Mental retardation refers to significantly sub average general intellectual functioning existing concurrently with deficits in adaptive behavior, and manifested during the developmental period".

What is Mental Retardation?
Failure to adapt normally and grow intellectually may become apparent early in life or, in the case of mild retardation, not become recognizable until school age or later. The failure to achieve developmental milestones is suggestive of mental retardation. Developmental milestones are the physical or behavioral signs of development or maturation of infants and children. Rolling over, crawling, walking and talking are considered developmental milestones and provide important information regarding the child's development.

A family may suspect mental retardation if motor skills, language skills and self-help skills do not seem to be developing in a child or are developing at a far slower rate than the child's peers.

The overall prevalence of mental retardation is believed to be between 1% and 3%, with mild retardation being most prevalent. It is often caused by chromosomal abnormalities such as Down Syndrome, Fragile X Syndrome and Prader-Willli Syndrome.

Classification of MR*

* Adapted from the World Health Organization (WHO)- World Health Report 2001

Symptoms/ Warning Signs

• Failure to meet intellectual developmental markers
• Persistence of infantile behavior
  
• Decreased learning ability
  
• Inability to meet age appropriate education/academic demands