MENTAL DEFICIENCY

Mental deficiency is a condition characterized by intellectual retardation, social inadequacy and persistent social dependency. This condition is evidence of an arrest in development that is apparent from birth or at an early age.

It refers to significantly sub-average general intelligent functioning, existing concurrently with deficits in adaptive behaviour which manifests during the development period.

DIAGNOSIS

Diagnosis of mental deficiency / retardation is established in the pre school child by evidence of delayed maturation in areas of adaptive, cognitive, social and verbal behaviours.

Mental deficiency in a person is assessed on the basis of :
- Mental status
- Speech pattern
- Behaviour and habits
- Learning capacity
- Personal hygiene

A person with mental deficiency is slow to learn and can not cope with typical academic learning. In persons with mental deficiency the need for protective supervision persists beyond the normal age of self-dependency.