Mental Retardation - Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

Mental retardation is a term used when a person has certain limitations in mental functioning. Mental retardation is sometimes referred to as a cognitive or intellectual disability. People with mental retardation may be described as having developmental disabilities , global developmental delay , or learning difficulties. There are different degrees of mental retardation, ranging from mild to profound. A person's level of mental retardation can be defined by their intelligence quotient (IQ). Mental retardation is a developmental disability that first appears in children under the age of 18. Mental retardation occurs in 2.5-3% of the general population. About 6-7.5 million mentally retarded individuals live in the United States alone . It occurs when something injures the brain or a problem prevents the brain from developing normally. There are many signs trouble speaking , hard to remember things , trouble understanding social rules , trouble solving problems and trouble thinking logically. Approximately 85% of the mentally retarded population is in the mildly retarded category.