Consultation “Mental development delay in children”

What causes ZPR - reasons

In approximately 75% of cases, the exact cause of the disease is unknown. We can only assume that the problem is due to defects in genes (or chromosomes), injuries or conditions that develop in the fetus in the womb, diseases of early life and environmental influences.

The role of genetics

If one or both parents have an intellectual disability, there is a much greater chance that their children will also have the condition. There are many genetic (inherited) causes of mental retardation, which occur due to deficiencies or omissions in the genetic material passed from parent to child. Sometimes mental retardation is caused by abnormalities in chromosomes rather than individual genes. Down syndrome, one of the most common causes of mental retardation, is caused by an extra chromosome in cells. Another fairly common chromosomal defect, called fragile X syndrome, causes PD mainly in boys.

* Genes are chemicals in the body that help determine a person's characteristics, such as hair or eye color, and are inherited from his parents. They are located on chromosomes found in the cells of the body. * Chromosomes (KRO-mo-somes) are thread-like structures inside the nucleus of cells on which genes are located.

Problems during pregnancy

Infections in pregnant women, such as rubella or toxoplasmosis, also cause mental retardation in children. Despite the fact that the mother may not suffer from the infection, the developing fetus becomes infected through the maternal body and has damage to certain areas of the central nervous system and other organs and systems. Pregnant women who drink alcoholic beverages are at risk of having a mentally retarded child through a condition known as fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). This is a common and preventable cause of PVD. Some drugs (such as cocaine or amphetamines), when taken during pregnancy, can harm the baby's mental development. Maternal malnutrition and radiation exposure during pregnancy can also cause similar developmental disorders.

Birth injuries

Oxygen starvation in the fetus during childbirth is also a cause of mental retardation. Babies born prematurely are usually mentally retarded, especially if the baby weighs less than 1.5 kg.

Disorders that occur after birth

PPD can be caused by problems such as lead or mercury poisoning, severe malnutrition, accidents that cause severe head injuries, interruption of oxygen supply to the brain (such as near drowning), or diseases such as encephalitis, meningitis and untreated hypothyroidism in infants.

It is important to understand: before starting treatment and correction of the child’s condition, it is necessary to determine the roots of the problem.

Causes of delayed mental speech development of a child

There are many factors that can trigger the disease. They can be divided into groups:

1. Intrauterine development. Hypoxia, fetal infections. Its development after birth is influenced by illnesses and injuries that the mother suffered during pregnancy.
2. Complicated childbirth. Traumatic, premature or rapid birth, entanglement.
3. Diseases in the first year of life. Neuroinfections, brain injuries.
4. Genetic factors. Chromosomal abnormalities and heredity - the disease tends to worsen in the next generation.

Delayed mental speech development of a child may occur against the background of diseases that disrupt the functioning of the brain. These include: congenital diseases of the central nervous system, epilepsy, hydrocephalus, cerebral palsy, brain tumors, disorders of the outflow of cerebrospinal fluid.

As a rule, parents learn about the situations listed above - congenital disorders, primary diseases and injuries - immediately and provide assistance to their child - they undergo treatment and rehabilitation courses.

But there are situations when a child is born physically and mentally healthy, grows and develops in accordance with age norms. And then suddenly he is diagnosed with SPD. Social factors can contribute to this : overprotection or, conversely, cruelty, violence or indifference towards the child, severe psychological trauma, unfavorable psychological climate in the family.

Main types of ZPR

Mental retardation is classified into four main types.

ZPR of a constitutional nature

Reasons: genetics. Symptoms: playful mood regardless of age, unstable attachment, disturbance of the emotional-volitional sphere, frequent mood swings.

ZPR of a somatogenic nature

Causes: severe illnesses with complications of brain function. Pathology can be triggered by previous surgical interventions, diseases of the cardiovascular system, dystrophies of various origins and severity, and allergic manifestations. Symptoms: causeless whims, increased nervousness, excessive complexes.

Mental retardation disorder of a psychogenic nature

Reasons: lack of parental attention and love, errors in upbringing, unfavorable living conditions. Symptoms: psychosis, attacks of nervousness, intellectual impairment, which ultimately leads to general psychological immaturity.

ZPR of cerebral-organic nature

Causes: intrauterine disorders that can occur due to a woman taking alcohol, toxic and narcotic substances during pregnancy. Sometimes the cause of the development of this particular type of pathology can be birth injuries and oxygen starvation of the brain during childbirth. Symptoms: instability of mental state.

Reasons for the formation of the ZPR

The etiology of mental development disorders includes two components: social factors in the lives of children and biological ones. Biological ones include:

• delays in the rate of brain maturation in the perinatal period and in early childhood;
• pathologies during pregnancy: intrauterine infections, hypoxia, bad habits of the mother, her emotional instability, atypical toxicosis, birth injuries;
• severe infectious diseases suffered by the baby, traumatic brain injuries, intoxication;
• A defect in one or more sense organs and, as a consequence, limited interaction with the world;
• heredity. Often, undiagnosed and uncorrected mental retardation in the mother or father subsequently manifests itself in the child.

Problems of mental development of the cerebral-organic type are most often due to biological reasons.

The socio-psychological prerequisites for mental retardation lie in the approach to raising a child. He experiences either overprotection or a lack of care and love from his parents. Sometimes a child becomes a witness or victim of traumatic situations and withdraws into himself, thereby blocking the functioning of the brain and suppressing cognitive activity. The lag is also provoked by pedagogical neglect and the lack of positive examples before the child’s eyes. ZPR is often observed in children in not the most prosperous families.

Constitutional, somatogenic and psychogenic mental retardation are based on social and hereditary prerequisites. If one of the parents had mental development disorders, most likely this will affect their children, including through the manner of upbringing and general behavior in the child’s family.

Symptoms of mental retardation in children at different age intervals

Sometimes signs of the disorder can be observed in children immediately after birth, and in some cases, problems begin to appear at school age and later. It is important to learn to recognize your baby’s characteristics in time.

Let's look at the main anxiety symptoms for different age categories of children:

1. Mental developmental development up to one year: late starts to hold up head, crawl, walk, talk, use cutlery.
2. Signs of mental retardation per year - a quiet, unemotional child, with a limited or absent set of simple words, does not show a reaction to being addressed.
3. ZPR 2 years old - no desire to learn something new by repeating after others, a primitive set of words (up to 20), no ability to compose logical phrases and sentences, limited memory skills.
4. Symptoms of mental retardation in children 3 years old - rapid unconscious speech with swallowing sounds, syllables or word endings, when answering a question, may think for a long time and repeat the question itself, slow movements or hyperactivity, no desire to explore the world around them, aggressiveness, increased salivation, narrow spectrum emotions, signs of cerebral palsy may appear.
5. Mental retardation 4 years - tearfulness, aggressiveness, emotional instability, causeless laughter or hysteria, underdeveloped speech, ignoring requests from adults, difficulty in contacting others.
6. Mental retardation in a 5-year-old preschooler - ignoring peers, aggressiveness or complete passivity, sudden mood swings, speech difficulties, especially in constructing even a simple dialogue, difficulties with memory, lack of simple everyday skills.
7. Mental retardation 6 years old - behavioral disorders, difficulty concentrating, performing basic everyday skills, noticeable lag behind peers in speech, emotional and intellectual development.
8. Symptoms of mental retardation in children aged 7 years - difficulties with reading, problems with logical problems and mathematical calculations, lack of emotional contact with peers, poor vocabulary, difficulties in voicing their thoughts and requests, behavioral problems (aggression, tearfulness, whining, self-isolation , unreasonable laughter, etc.).
9. Features of mental retardation in adolescents - mental instability, undeveloped self-esteem, no resistance to criticism, trying to avoid the team, psychomotor disinhibition and excitability, suppressed cognitive activity, limited memory (usually short-term), impaired verbal-figurative, visual-figurative and visual-effective thinking , speech disorders, lack of motivation, development of infantilism. A characteristic symptom of psychophysical infantilism is hysteroid psychopathy and depressive states.

At an early age, it is problematic to diagnose mental retardation. The most pronounced symptoms can be observed in preschool age, when self-care skills, spatial orientation, communication skills, fully developed memory and formed speech should already be formed. Regardless of the age at which mental retardation was diagnosed, correction of this condition must be started immediately.

Signs and symptoms of mental retardation

With oligophrenia, there is a systemic lesion of all types of mental functions that requires treatment.

Patients suffer from all intellectual abilities:

• attention;
• memory;
• emotional sphere;
• speech reproduction
• ability to perceive and analyze information.

Many patients develop movement disorders, diseases of internal organs, and neurological disorders.

Clinical manifestations of intellectual development defects depend on the form of severity and are important for deciding how to treat mental retardation and what the patient’s relatives should do.

Mild degree of dementia

Patients have an IQ of 50-70.

Main features:

• Low ability for abstract thinking.
• Inability to generalize.
• Lack of critical abilities.
• Predominant figurative and concrete thinking.
• Poor vocabulary.
• Emotional poverty.
• Increased suggestibility against the background of stubbornness.

With these disorders, this category of patients experiences:

• Good mechanical memory.
• Clear ability to perform routine activities that do not require creativity.
• Adaptability to life.

Persons with intellectual disabilities often have external defects:

• Irregularly shaped ears.
• “Mongolian fold” - epicanthus.
• The absence of part of the eye membrane is a coloboma.
• An increased distance between the eyes is hypertelorism.
• Defects of the heart and other organs.

Manifestations may require treatment not only from a psychiatrist, but also from other specialists.

Moderate to severe dementia

In this category of patients, IQ is in the range of 20-49.

They are characterized by:

• Flat (rudimentary) thinking.
• The ability to develop basic skills of self-care and neatness.
• Small vocabulary.
• Complete lack of ability to generalize the properties of phenomena and objects.
• Helplessness in any situation requiring intellectual effort.
• Tendency to mechanical imitation.

People with this pathology can perform primitive, routine work under control. They are either aggressive, or, on the contrary, timid and inhibited. They often exhibit hypersexuality and an increased appetite to the point of gluttony.

Profound degree of insanity

IQ in this case does not exceed 20.

When examining patients, the following is revealed:

• No signs of thinking.
• Inarticulate pronunciation of sounds.
• Complete misunderstanding of addressing them, lack of differentiation of people nearby.
• Inability to perform basic self-care skills.
• The presence of elementary emotions (joy, displeasure).
• Decreased response to stimuli.

Patients are in a supine position (fetal position). They require constant care and treatment. The prognosis is unfavorable.

Screening and tests

Diagnosis of mental retardation can only be performed by a certified psychologist capable of administering, scoring, and interpreting an intelligence or cognition test. Screening for the disease includes tests to analyze the child's intellectual and adaptive development, including the Denver Abnormal Development Test and IQ testing (these tests are performed on children and adolescents under 18 years of age.)

Children with an IQ of less than 70 and with limitations in two or more areas of adaptive behavior (eg, motor skills, communication abilities, self-help and independent living skills, and other daily living skills) generally may be considered intellectually disabled.

What is ZPR?

Basic mental functions include memory, attention, thinking, motor and emotional skills. There are medical standards for child development for each of these indicators. If in preschool and primary school age there is a lag in any of these indicators, this may become a reason for making a diagnosis of “mental retardation.” Work with such children is carried out with the participation of doctors and teachers, and with early diagnosis it is possible to partially or completely restore missing skills and catch up with peers in development. It is worth understanding that this disorder can take on different forms, which must be differentiated from each other, as well as from other diseases.

The term “mental retardation” is a general name for a number of mental disorders, without taking into account the cause of their development, the nature of their course and the possibility of recovery. This diagnosis has been replaced by two categories: “psychological developmental disorders” and “emotional and behavioral disorders that usually begin in childhood and adolescence.” They are used in the International Classification of Diseases to designate any forms and manifestations of mental disorders in children. However, the first term also remains relevant.

Complications and consequences

Late diagnosis of children with mental retardation and correction of this complex mental state can forever leave an imprint on the child’s life. Adolescence for a full-fledged child goes through difficulties, and for a child with mental retardation, inferiority complexes may additionally develop, which provoke a number of difficulties in communicating with the opposite sex and with peers. Low self-esteem leaves a negative imprint on academic performance and aspiration, and as a result, increased conflict appears in the team and family. Neglected situations can lead to irreversible consequences - severe depression and suicide. ZPR can provoke the development of chronic and incurable defects: various mental disorders, impairment of written, speech, and everyday skills. In adulthood, there may be problems with adaptation, working in a team, and starting a family.

ZPR: symptoms and signs

Developmental delays can only be identified using a comprehensive examination of children. In some cases, the line between mental retardation and mental retardation is very thin, and the clinical picture is very similar. Therefore, only a specialist should diagnose mental retardation in children whose symptoms are similar to mental, vegetative or somatic disorders.

It is very difficult to recognize it on your own, and without the necessary knowledge it is almost impossible. Taking into account the nature of the manifestations of mental retardation, sometimes erased or copying diseases of the nervous system, special commissions are created at educational institutions.

For example, the characteristics of a child with mental retardation for primary care include a number of parameters examined by observation, questioning, and testing. The document describes the physical and psychological development of the pupil (student), the level of his knowledge, abilities, skills, ability to concentrate, behavioral reactions and much more.

Such commissions make a general decision on the child’s educational system and psychological support. A collegial approach is necessary because the clinical manifestations of the disease are varied, and in each individual case, ZPR proceeds individually . In many children, inadequate emotional reactions, fears and anxiety, and immaturity of self-control come to the fore, combined with normal intellectual development. It is difficult even for a professional to distinguish this course of mental retardation from neurosis.

Some children only experience difficulties in mastering knowledge, building good relationships with others, and having adequate behavior. Others simply withdraw into themselves, are afraid of any contacts, stress, but at the same time they can study well. Here we need a differential diagnosis with autism.

Rules for raising a child with mental retardation

After hearing a diagnosis, every parent, first of all, must emotionally gather themselves and prepare for the difficult struggle for a full-fledged future for the child. Indeed, in medical practice there are quite a lot of examples when children, after being diagnosed with mental retardation, studied in regular schools and demonstrated, if not high, but average educational success. The second thing you need to understand is that something doesn’t work out for a child not because of laziness, it’s just that everything comes a little more difficult and slower to him. There is no need to independently develop a sense of inferiority in your baby with constant reproaches and abuse. The main task of parents is to support, motivate, help, demonstrate understanding and love.

Types and classification

All variants of mental retardation are usually divided into 4 categories. They are caused by different reasons and are characterized by their own flow characteristics. This factor is important when making a diagnosis, since it allows timely and competent work to be carried out on the adaptation and socialization of the child in order to avoid problems in the future with working in a team, achieving goals and personal growth.

ZPR of constitutional origin

The first type of mental retardation is also called mental infantilism. It is manifested by a violation of the emotional-volitional component and a delay in its formation. This is not a disease, but a complex of behavioral characteristics that can subsequently affect the child’s development, his ability to learn and work in a team. Such children exhibit characteristic signs that may indicate mental retardation even at an early age:

• lack of independence, a feeling of helplessness in the absence of parents or other familiar adults;
• difficulties with adaptation to new conditions;
• frequent mood swings, unstable emotional background;
• too violent manifestations of emotions, both positive and negative.

Children with mental retardation of constitutional origin do not visually differ from their peers. They have no speech problems and appear active and positive. However, in terms of the level of emotional development they are less mature; with age, these developments can be smoothed out.

ZPR of somatogenic origin

This category includes children who are in poor health from an early age. They may be diagnosed with frequent colds, allergic manifestations, and disorders of the heart and blood vessels. They may have an individual regime of work, rest and physical activity, restrictions for playing sports and other features due to which they cannot fully be in children's groups, socialize and develop. Common problems that need to be dealt with in children with mental retardation of somatogenic origin include:

• lack of attention and lack of concentration;
• rapid fatigue from both physical and mental activity;
• low activity and desire to explore the world around us.

This category includes children who are under the constant care of their parents and older relatives. This may also occur due to their poor health, tendency to frequent colds and reduced immunity. Such children lack motivation to learn new things on their own, their concentration decreases, and excessive anxiety appears. In addition, they do not have the ability to make decisions, which causes a decrease in motivation. This situation is typical for prosperous families, where there are all conditions for the treatment and upbringing of a child. However, overprotection often interferes with normal personality development, so this factor also needs to be worked on.

ZPR of psychogenic origin

The next category of mental retardation is typical for dysfunctional families. Violence, unhealthy emotional background, conflicts, including between adults, cause disruption in the formation of a child’s personality. Such children experience excessive shyness, fear of expressing emotions, emotional instability and frequent mood swings. Conflicts in the family are indicated by fear of an unfamiliar environment, which may decrease over time or transform into other emotions, including aggression.

Hypocustody is one of the most common manifestations of pedagogical neglect. A child who grows up without the opportunity to observe normal relationships in the family, does not study in child care institutions, and cannot interact in a team. In the future, this leads to difficulties with communication, lack of motivation and other problems that get in the way of personal growth, professional development, and relationships with peers.

ZPR of cerebral-organic origin

Unlike previous types of mental retardation, this type is associated with organic damage to the central nervous system. Brain dysfunction is minimal, so the child still has every chance of full socialization and adaptation in society. The diagnosis may occur due to complicated childbirth, traumatic brain injury, or infectious diseases. The manifestations of this condition are individual, depending on the nature of the damage and the location of the pathological focus. Since at an early age the potential for regeneration is very high, nerve tissue is gradually restored and ensures the child’s development in all areas. However, this requires lengthy and labor-intensive work, including with specialized specialists.

Other classifications

There are other classifications of mental retardation syndrome. The first of them was developed in the USSR and was used for diagnostics in children's educational institutions. She identifies only two types of violations:

• uncomplicated infantilism of a psychophysical and mental nature;
• secondary mental retardation, which manifests itself as a result of cerebroasthenia (decreased brain function) of any origin.

There is also a classification developed by V.V. Kovalev. She distinguishes 4 main types of mental retardation, which develop under the influence of biological factors:

• dysorthogenetic - characteristic of infantilism in children;
• encephalopathic - a consequence of minimal damage to the nervous system;
• secondary mental retardation in diseases of the analyzer systems, including significant decreases in hearing and vision;
• ZPR, which occurs with early deprivation in society (for example, with the need for long-term hospitalization and lack of social adaptation).

The most accepted classification of mental retardation today is 4 types of disorders, depending on the etiological factor. It is she who identifies delayed mental development of constitutional, somatogenic, psychogenic and cerebral-organic origin. It is considered the most capacious and includes all cases of ZPR. However, in some cases it is difficult to accurately determine the category to which the disease belongs, so mixed varieties can also be distinguished.

Is it possible to prevent PPD?

There is no specific way to prevent mental retardation. Improved health care, prenatal testing, and public health education can help prevent some cases of BD. People who want to become parents can receive genetic counseling to determine the likelihood of mental retardation from an inherited disorder. Medical tests such as amniocentesis, human chorionic villus sampling and ultrasonography can help identify inherited metabolic and chromosomal disorders associated with mental retardation. Vaccinations can protect pregnant women from infections that harm the fetus. Newborn blood test screening can detect some disorders at birth, allowing for earlier treatment. It is also important to protect children from lead poisoning and head injuries.

* Amniocentesis (am-nee-o-sen-TEE-sis) is a test in which a long, thin needle is inserted into the mother's uterus to obtain a sample of amniotic fluid. Fetal cells in the fluid are examined for genetic defects. * Chorionic villus sampling (VOR-lus KOR-ee-on-ik sampling) is a test in which a small tube is inserted through the cervix and a small piece of the placenta supporting the fetus is removed for genetic testing. * Ultrasonography (ul-tra-so-NOG-ra-fee) is a painless test that uses high-frequency sound waves to record and display the shape of the fetus in the mother's uterus.

Diagnostics

Mental development disorders are difficult to detect at an early stage. However, such diagnosis is extremely necessary for early correction and compensation of the detected defect.

The diagnosis of “mental retardation” is made on the basis of special methods that allow assessing the intellectual level of an individual. Sometimes specialists use neuropsychological diagnostics, which allows us to determine the level of development of higher mental functions, as well as assess the child’s potential.

A correctly made diagnosis makes it possible to timely develop corrective methods to eliminate the pathology and treat it. In this case, the doctor must make sure that the little patient does not have signs of progression of underdevelopment or signs of more serious mental illnesses (schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, etc.).

It is also important to determine that the patient’s condition is not pedagogical neglect. This often happens to children who have lost their parents and were sent to an orphanage. There they can be subjected to harsh treatment, bullying, violence, etc. But if the child changes the situation for a better one - he is adopted, he lives and is raised in a normal family, then his condition returns to normal.

Features of diagnosing mental retardation in children - reviews

Prevention and treatment

In order to prevent the development of mental retardation in the womb, pregnant women who have an unfavorable history (physiological indicators, predisposition) are recommended to undergo a more thorough examination. Doctors place women under special observation who suffered from viral diseases during pregnancy.

Birth injuries received by newborns, as well as infectious diseases they suffered at an early age, can lead to brain damage.

A child with mild mental retardation has the opportunity to develop and learn within the limits of his biological capabilities. This pathology is incurable, but its timely and competent correction will make it possible for such a person to become a full-fledged member of society, albeit with limited abilities. A special role in this case is played by the environment and perception. There is no doubt that such people require increased attention.

Mental retardation requires close contact with loved ones, teachers, doctors, and psychologists. The doctor selects specialized institutions for children with mental development problems taking into account the child’s capabilities and abilities. Additionally, the psychotherapist can prescribe medication support using pharmacological drugs. Medical and educational measures and labor training for the mentally retarded show good results.

It is always important to remember that any mental illness is not a death sentence. The main thing is to contact a specialist in time, who will help make your stay in society as comfortable and fruitful as possible for the patient.

In the case of mild oligophrenia, experts give a relatively favorable prognosis. This applies to cases not burdened with concomitant psychopathological and somatoneurological disorders. People with such deviations are quite capable of mastering certain types of professions, can adapt to independent living, and even create families.

Treatment and correction

Depending on the type of mental retardation and the individual characteristics of the child, specialized specialists develop a correctional and developmental program for the child to study. It includes various blocks that provide an integrated approach to solving existing problems.

Microcurrent reflexology

This is a hardware effect of electrical impulses on bioactive points of the brain, the so-called neuroreflex zones. Targetedly restores the functioning of the nervous system exactly where there are disturbances. Microcurrents selectively process the brain centers responsible for intellectual abilities, speech activity, diction, and vocabulary.

Organized in a hospital setting. True, not all parents give consent to the procedure.

Psychological and pedagogical correctional classes

A child with mental retardation should regularly attend psychologist classes. The goal is to adjust mental development in such a way that it improves his quality of life. Among the main tasks:

• increase the level of intellectual, emotional and social development;
• develop gross and fine motor skills;
• expand your vocabulary and conceptual apparatus.

Parents have the right to know what the program of the psychologist who works with their child includes. Points that raise doubts or mistrust must be agreed upon in advance.

Psychological work with children suffering from mental retardation involves the use of a variety of techniques.

Psychotherapeutic areas:

• isotherapy;
• sand therapy;
• music therapy;
• puppet therapy;
• fairytale therapy;
• logorhythmics;
• methods of object-sensory therapy.

During classes, the psychologist organizes didactic games with multi-colored stripes, cubes, sticks, geometric shapes (including three-dimensional ones) and special cards. Examples of several such games are presented below.

"Guess the Emotion"

It is carried out either in a group of 5-6 similar children with mental retardation, or in pairs with a psychologist. Cards with schematic representations of various emotions are placed on the table. It is proposed to take one of them at random, name what is in the picture, and try to depict this feeling using facial expressions, voice, and gestures. You can make the task more difficult and ask them to name the situation in which this emotion most often manifests itself.

"Find the number"

Pictures and three-dimensional figures of different numbers are laid out on the table. They all differ in size and color. The psychologist names a number - you need to select all the matches from the proposed material (for example, all twos or eights).

"Mood Lotto"

There are cards on the table with animals with different faces on them. The psychologist names an emotion (shows a picture of it or depicts it himself) - the child must choose the right card for it.

"Magic bag"

Small voluminous things that are easily recognizable by touch are put into a beautiful bag: a mirror, an alarm clock, a pencil, a notepad, a ruler, etc. You need to put your hand in there with your eyes closed, take out any object and guess what it is.

"Mood Palette"

There are cards with different shades of mood on the table. The psychologist asks the question: “How do you feel now?” — the child must answer using a drawing. After this, the question is transformed several times: “How is your mother feeling today?”, “What do you think is your cat’s mood?” etc.

Alternative techniques

Additionally, specialized specialists can prescribe modern, non-traditional correction methods:

• hippotherapy;
• canistherapy;
• dolphin therapy;
• feline therapy.

Timely and competently carried out psychocorrectional work gives positive results.

Clinical picture

Parents should be aware of the main symptoms of mental retardation characteristic of a particular age.

1 year

CPR is not diagnosed at 1 year of age. But a number of alarm bells may indicate a tendency towards it:

• Compared to his peers, the baby began to hold his head up, sit up, crawl, turn, stand up, walk, walk late;
• does not hold objects well;
• cannot coordinate movements;
• moves little;
• unemotional.

In this case, it is necessary to take into account the individual developmental characteristics of the baby and, if in doubt, consult a pediatrician or neurologist.

2 years

Deviations are indicated by:

• ignorance of one's own name;
• lack of response to the simplest questions;
• profuse drooling;
• sleep disorders;
• moodiness, tearfulness, irritability, aggression;
• difficulty maintaining attention on a specific subject.

3 years

• Poor vocabulary (no more than 20 words);
• speech defects;
• lack of basic understanding of the surrounding world (cannot name animals, household items, body parts);
• inability to formulate coherent speech;
• difficulty completing basic tasks;
• undeveloped imagination;
• uniformity of actions in the game;
• inability to concentrate;
• fast fatiguability;
• aggressiveness, hysteria.

4 years

At 4 years of age, mental retardation is already clearly diagnosed based on specific symptoms.

Physical:

• weak muscle tone;
• kinetosis;
• urinary disorders;
• headache;
• fatigue, weakness, lethargy, immobility.

Cognitive:

• inability to speak coherently;
• poor vocabulary;
• absent-minded attention;
• poor memory;
• inability to remember information visually or auditorily;
• lack of basic knowledge about the world;
• lack of formation of cognitive motivation.

Social:

• aggressiveness, distrust, wariness towards others;
• isolation, autism, self-absorption;
• reluctance to participate in joint games;
• infantilism;
• mood changes.

It is at the age of 4, with timely recognition of mental retardation, that corrective work must begin. In its absence, all these symptoms only increase and deepen at 5-6 years of age. Secondary signs appear: psychosomatic diseases and internal complexes develop, cognitive abilities deteriorate, and social maladaptation is observed.

At primary school age, mental retardation manifests itself more clearly. Such children differ from their peers in behavior and learning abilities. If parents and kindergarten teachers missed this moment and sent such a child to school, the teacher can no longer help but pay attention to this. He needs to master the minimum standard program, without which he cannot transfer such a student to another class. Therefore, at this stage, a medical-pedagogical commission is organized, a diagnosis is made and psycho-correctional work begins.

Education

Where and how can a child with mental retardation study:

• integrated education in secondary schools;
• correctional and developmental education based on a person-centered approach in general educational institutions;
• training in educational institutions of the VII type, where all the features of the educational activities of children with mental retardation are taken into account as much as possible.

In 2015, an important document was approved regulating the education of children with mental retardation in secondary schools. This is the “Adapted basic general education program for primary general education for students with mental retardation.” It is included in the “Special basic general education programs of primary general education of the Federal State Educational Standard”. This system is being implemented in regular educational institutions (not correctional) throughout the Russian Federation from September 1, 2021 in accordance with the Letter of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation dated June 7, 2013 “On correctional and inclusive education of children.”

From this moment on, children with mental retardation have every right to study not in a correctional school, but in a regular general education school, together with their normally developing peers. In this case, teachers and parents should take into account the following teaching features:

• they require more attention and individual approach;
• they study according to a separate, simplified program;
• Problems in mastering the material are not due to laziness and negligence, but to inability.

Educational psychologists insist that it is much more productive to send a child with mental retardation to a specialized correctional school or transfer him to home schooling.