What are the characteristics of mental retardation?

Answer 1

Mental Retardation: Typical Characteristics

(Please note that these are generalizations. There is a great deal of individual variation) Individuals with mild mental retardation (formerly referred to as "educable"): * are likely to need only intermittent to limited support; * typically do not "look" different from their non-disabled peers; * often have only mild or moderate developmental delays, except in academics, which is often the major area of deficit; * therefore, they are often not identified until they enter the school setting, where their cognitive disability is most apparent; * in Minnesota, students with mild MR spend most of the school day in the regular classroom; * they typically attain 3rd- to 6th-grade academic achievement levels by the time they finish high school; * as adults, many, though not all, with mild MR will be able to obtain independent employment; * many will marry, have children, and blend rather indistinguishably into the community; for those who achieve total independence, the label of mental retardation is no longer appropriate. Individuals with moderate to severe mental retardation (formerly called "trainable"): * will probably need limited to extensive supports; * they are more likely to have a recognizable syndrome (such as Down syndrome); * therefore, may "look" different than their non-disabled peers;. * their development is often significantly delayed; * they are typically identified as infants or toddlers;. * most begin receiving special education during the preschool years; * they may be included in the regular classroom part of the school day (particularly here in Minnesota); * but often spend much of the school day in a separate classroom where they learn adaptive living skills; * as adults, most individuals with moderate to severe MR will not achieve total independence; * rather, they are likely to continue to need limited to extensive support such as that provided in group homes or semi-independent living situations (SILs); some may continue to live with their parents; * some individuals with moderate to severe MR may be able to succeed in modified competitive employment situations; * however, many will work in supported, non-competitive settings such as sheltered workshops.

Individuals with profound mental retardation: * will generally need services at the pervasive level, typically throughout their life; * they are likely to have multiple disabilities, particularly in the areas of mobility and communication;. * therefore, many use wheelchairs and alternate forms of communication; * their communication deficits make it difficult to accurately assess their intellectual functioning; * in educational settings, they may be placed along with students with moderate to severe MR or in their own classroom; * Some adults with this level of retardation remain in institutional settings, but most currently live in group homes. this iformaton are find in : http://www.cloudnet.com/~edrbsass/mrcharacteristics.htm Mental Retardation: Typical Characteristics

(Please note that these are generalizations. There is a great deal of individual variation) Individuals with mild mental retardation (formerly referred to as "educable"): * are likely to need only intermittent to limited support; * typically do not "look" different from their non-disabled peers; * often have only mild or moderate developmental delays, except in academics, which is often the major area of deficit; * therefore, they are often not identified until they enter the school setting, where their cognitive disability is most apparent; * in Minnesota, students with mild MR spend most of the school day in the regular classroom; * they typically attain 3rd- to 6th-grade academic achievement levels by the time they finish high school; * as adults, many, though not all, with mild MR will be able to obtain independent employment; * many will marry, have children, and blend rather indistinguishably into the community; for those who achieve total independence, the label of mental retardation is no longer appropriate. Individuals with moderate to severe mental retardation (formerly called "trainable"): * will probably need limited to extensive supports; * they are more likely to have a recognizable syndrome (such as Down Syndrome); * therefore, may "look" different than their non-disabled peers;. * their development is often significantly delayed; * they are typically identified as infants or toddlers;. * most begin receiving special education during the preschool years; * they may be included in the regular classroom part of the school day (particularly here in Minnesota); * but often spend much of the school day in a separate classroom where they learn adaptive living skills; * as adults, most individuals with moderate to severe MR will not achieve total independence; * rather, they are likely to continue to need limited to extensive support such as that provided in group homes or semi-independent living situations (SILs); some may continue to live with their parents; * some individuals with moderate to severe MR may be able to succeed in modified competitive employment situations; * however, many will work in supported, non-competitive settings such as sheltered workshops.

Individuals with profound mental retardation: * will generally need services at the pervasive level, typically throughout their life; * they are likely to have multiple disabilities, particularly in the areas of mobility and communication;. * therefore, many use wheelchairs and alternate forms of communication; * their communication deficits make it difficult to accurately assess their intellectual functioning; * in educational settings, they may be placed along with students with moderate to severe MR or in their own classroom; * Some adults with this level of retardation remain in institutional settings, but most currently live in group homes. this iformaton are find in : http://www.cloudnet.com/~edrbsass/mrcharacteristics.htm
One of the characteristics of mental retardation is slower learning and it is hard to remember information learned. Poor communication skills is also a characteristic.