What makes a child retarded

I like to think we had a meaningful, memorable conversation. He seemed satisfied with the explanation and moved on to a new topic. It makes me sad that in , I have to explain to my son what a word means within the context of hurting others.

A word when used by definition may not be offensive, but when used as a casual adjective takes on a very different meaning. It is a big deal. It is disrespectful.

You should be embarrassed that your vocabulary is so limited that you struggle to find a better, more appropriate word than one intended to marginalize entire groups of people.

I am not easily offended and by no means am I the word police. Many cases of mental retardation in children are caused by problems before a child is born. One of the most common causes of metal retardation in children, for instance, is genetics. Certain chromosomal disorders that can cause this disorder are often hereditary, or run in families. Down syndrome is one example of such a disorder.

This occurs when an infant is born with an extra chromosome. Another condition, known as fragile X syndrome, is another example. There a few ways to diagnose intellectual disability in kids. Blood tests, urine tests and imaging can be done if there are physical abnormalities. Other tests, like the ones given below, are done to gauge skills like reasoning, language, cognitive, etc. However, there are therapies with the help of which you can enrich the lives of intellectually disabled children and help them live a pleasant childhood.

Read on to know some of them. Most cases of intellectual disability are genetic; however, there are some cases wherein the parents have had the ability to prevent it. Here are some ways you could prevent intellectual disability in your child:. Intellectual disability majorly affects the overall development of the child. Here are some common challenges faced by intellectually disabled children:. Parents can play a significant role in treating and raising a child with an intellectual disability.

Here are a few tips to help build a differently-abled child:. Many children who have intellectual challenges have, in time, learned to overcome their disability and live near-normal lives. Doctors consider multiple factors before diagnosing intellectual disability, and tests are often ordered based on the possible causes.

The degree of impairment can be different in each child, varying from mild to severe disabilities. It is measured by the scores of standardized intelligence tests. But the impact of the impairment is assessed based on the support a person requires to perform adaptive skills.

That means a child with mild intellectual disability may have poor adaptive skills, thus requiring extensive support. These may include 7 :. The support required for the intellectually disabled is categorized as 7 :. Children may lack skills and may require constant support or assistance. However, a few children may gradually learn skills with proper training and manage their day-to-day life.

Multidisciplinary support is required to care for a child with intellectual disability. It may require the support of the following specialists 6. The involvement of the family is an essential factor in individualized programs for the child.

Home is the best living place for children with intellectual disabilities. Although living with an intellectual disability can be challenging, it is possible to learn skills and adapt to it over time. The following measures may help parents understand and support the child 8. Education must be least restrictive and in the most inclusive setting, such as with occasions to interact with non-disabled peers 9.