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Mental Sub-normality

Mental sub-normality or mental retardation or mental deficiency, all mean the same. It means a condition of arrested or incomplete development of mind of a person that is characterized by 'sub-normality of intelligence'.

The mentally sub-normal child is backward in development. The baby sleeps longer, has feeding difficulties, lacks control over bowel movements. They have Delayed Milestones.
Like all Disabilities, mental sub-normality can also be Congenital or Acquired.

Down's syndrome is associated with chromosomal abnormality. There is an extra chromosome present. The child with Down's syndrome is easy to recognize because of his physical features. The nose is short and flat. The eyes have an upward slant giving them an oriental appearance, thus giving them the name, Mongol. The IQ level rarely exceeds 50, but because of their placid temperament, they are easy to train and educate.

In acquired cases of mental sub-normality, the child is born quite normally, but due to some disease or an accident, there is permanent brain damage, which results in mental deficiency.

The classification is done on the basis of IQ (Intelligence Quotient). There are many definitions of intelligence, but according to Binet and Simon, who are pioneers of IQ tests -

Intelligence is judgment, good sense, initiative, the ability to comprehend and to reason well and to adapt oneself to circumstances.

IQ represents the degree of brightness possessed by an individual and it is obtained through tests based on reasoning ability. They are in the form of questions, puzzles and exercises

Mental age is an individual's level of performance, whereas chronological age is his physical age. A child of 8 years who has mental age of 4 will have an IQ of 50.

A normal or an average child's IQ is 90-110.

Remember that we cannot label a child as mentally retarded on the basis of IQ alone because performance is always a decisive factor and depends on combination of IQ and application. Training and support from home affect application. Though the child's IQ maybe low, proper management, appropriate educational plan can make the child a useful member of Society.