Mentally challenged adults are also known as mentally retarded adults. Their IQ (intelligent quotient) score is below 70. Mental retardation can be graded into four categories. It can be mild, moderate, severe and profound retardation. The symptoms vary accordingly. IQ of 80-130 is considered to be within normal range, with an average of 100.
A mentally challenged individual has limited role in at least in two areas of his daily life. This can be self care, social skills, communication, work, safety etc. Major mentally challenged adults account for 1 percent of population.
Normally a person with mental retardation will not be able to do work and lead a successful life. He has to depend of other family members and social aids for his survival. These adults need a special personal care.
Major Symptoms Of Mentally Challenged Adults
Wide variety of symptoms persists among adults who are mentally challenged. 70 to 80 percent of adults are found to be mildly retarded with an IQ between 50 and 70.
An adult with moderate IQ is able to do some basic calculation, and recognize few words or write few sentences. Severely mentally challenged adults are able to communicate with few words, but are not able to learn any skills to do their work independently. The last category which involves profound mental retardation are not able to communicate or understand.
Physically they may include deformed facial expressions, flat nose, and moon face with large ears.
An adult with profound retardation is not able to understand what is instructed to him during work. Basic sense of urination and bowel movement is lost. As a result he has to wear adult diapers all the time. He is unable to understand or communicate and therefore requires constant monitoring.
Causes Of Mental Retardation In Adults
Major mental retardation in adults has many causes.
- Infection, trauma during the time of birth etc.
- Genetic plays an important role in mental retardation. Certain abnormal genes can produce Down syndrome and several other mental catastrophes.
- Poisoning with mercury and lead can lead to mental retardation in adults.
- Mental retardation is an issue in famine prone areas due to severe malnourishment.
- Infections such as whooping cough and meningitis in childhood can be one of the causes for low IQ development in adults.
- In adults environmental surrounding is also responsible for low IQ development. A person who is not emotionally nurtured.
How To Care For Mentally Challenged Adults?
Mentally challenged adults cannot be cured. The main aim of treatment is to help the person to achieve his maximum potential so that he may live his life independently or may require very minimal assistance. Care taker and family members of retarded person plays important role in caring mentally challenged individual.
Care taker and family member should understand that these adults are just like children in their behavior. Love, care and positive attitude towards the patient rather than scolding and punishing will help him to cope up in his daily life.
Speak with the person as you are speaking with a child so that it is possible for him to understand. Keep your vocabulary with short and understanding words. Do not raise your voice while speaking with him. It may lead to frustration as he may consider it as a form of anger. Praise the adult for whatever small work he has performed. It will encourage him.