How are some people born retarded?

Answer 1

There are many reasons this happens. Some of the more common causes of mental retardation, which can range from mild to severe, are: * If the mother drinks, smokes, takes illegal drugs (and some prescription drugs) while pregnant, it can cause mental retardation. * If the baby suffers oxygen deprivation during birth, that can also lead to brain damage. For example, if the umbilical cord becomes wrapped around the baby's neck during birth, it cuts off the baby's air supply, and can result in brain damage, or even death. * Another cause of oxygen deprivation is meconium aspiration. Meconium is the first bowel movement of a baby, and if it occurs in the womb, the baby can aspirate (breathe it into his lungs) it, resulting in decreased oxygen intake. This rarely occurs unless the baby is overdue by at least two weeks, but is life threatening when it does happen. * Hydrocephalus (or water on the brain) can also cause mental retardation. This, however, is relatively rare, and sometimes occurs in association with spina bifida (a disorder of the spine). In many cases, it can be surgically treated by drilling a small hole in the skull, and inserting a small tube to allow the excess fluid to drain. In most cases, if this condition is diagnosed and treated early enough, the chances of normal and mental physical development are good. * Down's Syndrome, which affects almost 2% of all babies born, is also a cause of mental retardation. In the normal human body, all cells, except egg and sperm cells, have 46 chromosomes each. When a child is born with 47 chromosomes in each cell, the result is Down's Syndrome. * If the pregnancy is a result of first degree incest (father and daughter, sister and brother), the risk of retardation is much greater than it would be had the mother not been related to the baby's father. Second degree incest (uncle and niece, first cousin and first cousin) can also sometimes result in mental retardation, but usually not as severe as first degree incest. * If the mother is age 40 or older, the risk of mental retardation is greater than that of a child born to a mother of a younger age.

Answer 2

You were either born with it (due to genetics), or you have suffered some kind of brain injury as a result of trauma or lack of Oxygen. Even people with dementia and Traumatic Brain Injuries later in life can resemble someone who's "retarded".

Personally, I prefer the term "mentally disabled".