Possible Risk Factors and Signs of Mental Retardation (MR)Comparative Study of Mentally Retarded and Normal Children

摘要

A retrospective study was performed to obtain information useful for the early detection, intervention and prevention of mental retardation (MR) in children. A questionnaire consisting of 57 items, which were chosen on the basis of an earlier three year study and included conventional risk factors causing brain damage. Significant differences were noted between MR children and normal children in the incidences of the following: (1) asphyxia, (2) birth weight of less than 2500 g, (3) poor sucking, (4) floppy infant with little activity, (5) poor response to the human voice, (6) difficulties with eye to eye contact, (7) delayed head control (more than 5 months after birth), (8) delayed walking with support (more than 10 months after birth), (9) delayed “walking alone” (more than 18 months old), and (10) delayed onset of talking meaningfully (p<0.005). In addition the following occurred more frequently in the MR group. (1) The mother's age was more than 30 years. (2) The infants needed an incubator with oxygen inhalation. (3) The delivery was prolonged. (4) The mothers were exposed to X-ray irradiation while pregnant. (5) The babies were “too quiet”, (6) hypersensitive to sounds, (7) hypertonic, and (8) frequently crying without reason (p<0.05).