Cognitive Impairments (Mental Retardation) By: Courtney Lowell
Feb 22, 2016
Cognitive Impairments(Mental Retardation)
By: Courtney Lowell
Mental Retardation Mental retardation is a term used
when a person has certain limitations in mental functioning and in skills such as communicating, taking care of him or herself, and social skills.(Mental Retardation, 2002)
What Causes Mental Retardation?
Genetic conditions- abnormal genes inherited from parents.
Problems during pregnancy: Mental retardation can result when the baby does not develop inside the mother properly.
Problems at birth: not getting enough oxygen could cause mental retardation.
Health problems: Diseases like whooping cough, measles, or meningitis can also cause mental retardation. Malnutrition can also be a cause.
Mental Retardation IS NOT a Disease
You cannot catch mental retardation from anyone.
It is not a type of mental illness.
There is no cure for mental retardation.
Most children with mental retardation can learn to do many things, it just takes them more time and effort than other children.
Are There Signs of Mental Retardation?
Some signs of children with mental retardation may include the following:
Sit up, crawl, or walk later than other children. Learn to talk later, or have trouble speaking. Find it hard to remember things. Having trouble understanding social rules. Have trouble seeing consequences of their
own actions. Have trouble thinking logically.
Is Mental Retardation Common?
As many as 3 out of every 100 people in the country have mental retardation.
Over 614,000 children ages 6-21 have some level of mental retardation and need special education in school.
1 out of every 10 children who need special education have some form of mental retardation.
(Mental Retardation, 2002)
Specific Types of Cognitive Impairments
Down syndrome
Phenylketonuria (PKU)
Fragile X syndrome
Down Syndrome
Down syndrome is a genetic condition when an individual has 47 chromosomes instead of the normal 26.
Characteristics of Down Syndrome
Mental retardation, usually the moderate range
Short stature Flat, broad face with small ears and nose Hyperflexibility of joints Small skull with flattened back of the
head and soft spots Upward slanting of with folds of skin Premature aging
Prevalence of Down Syndrome
Occurs once in every 1,500-2,00 births when the mother’s age is below 25.
Occurs once in every 400 births when the mother’s age is over 35.
Occurs once in every 40 births when the mother’s age is over 45.
When a mother with a child who has Down Syndrome, the child has a 1in25 chance of having Down Syndrome.
Down Syndrome accounts for approximately 10% of the mentally retarded individuals with moderate and severe forms of mental retardation.
Phenylketonuria (PKU) PKU is an inherited condition which prevents the
affected individual from normally metabolizing one of the essential amino acids found in all protein foods.
People suffering from PKU lack an enzyme that is essential to break down an amino acid known as phenylalanine which is generally found in protein foods.
The excessive amount of phenylalanine in the blood causes irreparable damage to the brain if left undetected.
Characteristics of PKU IQ may be somewhat lower than expected Have difficulties with tasks involving
organization and planning Musty body odor Small head and prominent cheek and
upper jaw bones Widely spaced teeth Seizures Skin rashes
Fragile X Syndrome Is a well-recognized cause of
intellectual disability and developmental delays in males and females
It is a genetic condition involving changes in part of the X chromosome
It is caused by a change in the FMR1 gene
Characteristics of Fragile X Syndrome
Moderate to sever mental retardation Behavioral problems Hyperactivity Gaze aversion Flat feet Long face
Strategies in the Classroom Learn as much as you can about mental retardation Find out what the student’s strengths and interests
are, and emphasize on them If not part of an IEP team, as for a copy of his or her
IEP Demonstrate what you mean rather than just
giving verbal directions Break longer, new tasks into small steps. Have the
students do the steps, one at a time and provide assistance when necessary.
Strategies Continued… Give the student immediate feedback
Teach the student life skills such as daily living, social skills, as appropriate.
Try to involve the student in group activities or clubs
Work together with the student’s parents and other school personnel to create and implement an educational plan based on meeting the student’s needs.
Using Differentiated Instruction
Differentiated instruction is defined as the planning of curriculum and instruction using strategies that address student strengths, interests, skills, and readiness in flexible learning environments. ( Gartin, Murdick, Imbeau, Perner, 2002)
High Quality Differentiated Instruction
INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING:
Is engaging to the student
Joyful or satisfying
Provides choices
Connects with the student’s lives and world
Is fresh and surprising
Allows meaningful collaboration
Seems real or is real to the student
Has clear expectations
Differentiated Instruction for the Cognitively Impaired
Seating: Quiet places Flexible seating-study carrels, loner
seats, reading corners, headphone area arrangements and grouping
Multiple use areas- tutorial stations and group work area.
Classroom Organization Well established daily routines Multiple signals and cues to prepare
students for changes in activity Student assignments given orally,
posted on the board and written in assignment workbooks
Manipulatives and materials stored for easy access
Instructional Adaptations Chunk content into small segments Provide student with outlines or lecture notes
beforehand Have material read aloud Accompany lectured with visual materials such
as overheads, graphic organizers, and maps Hands on activities Highlight essential ideas and facts in the text
or handouts Include demonstrations
Universal Design of LearningWays teachers can integrate the principles of
universal design in lesson planning: Consider multiple learning styles when presenting
information Promote engagement by giving students choices
of content, assignments, responses, and materials Allow students to respond to assignments in
multiple ways Teach to multiple levels of ability
Use curriculum overlapping Use ongoing assessment
Websites for Teachers http://forums.atozteacherstuff.com/sho
wthread.php?t=23906
http://www.teachingtips.com/blog/2008/06/25/the-ultimate-guide-to-special-needs-teaching-100-resources-and-links/
http://www.literacy.uconn.edu/spnhome.htm
Bibliography Mental retardation (2002) National Information Center
for Children and Youth with Disabilities, 3-5.
Dianne, Ferrara. (1984) What is down syndrome? ERIC Clearinghouse on Handicapped and Gifted Children. (2).
Dennis, Lockyer, Lazenby, Donnelly, Wilkinson, Schoonhey. (1999) Intelligence patterns among children with high- functioning autism, phenylketonuria, and childhood head injury. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, (8).
Bibliography Continued… Lombroso, Paul, Ogren, Marilee. (2008) Fragile x
syndrome: keys to the molecular genetics of synaptic placticity. Clinical Implications of Basic Research, (736).
Gartin, Murdick, Imbeau, Perner. (2002) How to use differentiated instruction with students with developmental disabilities in the general education classroom. Council for Exception Children, 12, 18, 30.
Lynch, Sharon, Warner, Laverne, (2008) Creating lesson plans for all learners. Kappa Delta Pi Record, (12).