An intellectual disability that is also known as mental retardation (M.R.) is the most common disability found among children with special needs. It is considered a substantial limitation in present functioning.
- It starts before the age of 18, the intellectual functioning level of a child becomes below average and that can be measured by the standardized tests used for measuring the intelligence quotient.
Key Points
- The mentally retarded are those whose normal intellectual growth is arrested before birth, during the birth process, or in the early years of development.
- They learn slowly and through imitating their peers or teachers. They have a short memory and forget things easily.
- They have problems in communication, social interaction, managing their daily tasks, speech disturbances. They show immaturity in different social situations.
- Mental retardation may vary in different individuals, ranging from mild to profound. They require special care and supervision for their welfare and for the development of their capacities.
Hence, it could be concluded that the ability to generalize is not a learning characteristic of a mentally retarded person.
