DAKSHINYA - INSTITUTE FOR THE MENTALY HANDICAPPED

1.What is wrong with my child? Why is she not developing like other children?

Brain controls our entire body functioning. If the brain is damaged it may manifest as developmental delay, mental retardation, poor learning and performance. Your child's problem may be one of the above. Hence the child is different in development and learning.

2. Are there any drugs that can cure brain damage?

Mental retardation is an irreversible condition. The damage caused to the brain is permanent. With available knowledge and techniques for management and treatment of mental retardation, no drugs have been found to repair the damage occurred to the brain.

3. What is the prelevance of the condition of mental retardation in our country?

Nearly 2% of the general population in our country is affected with mental retardation. There are presently about 168 lakhs of mentally retarded people in our country. Mental retardation can affect people from all walks of life.

4. How early can a parent seek early intervention when their baby is found to be developmentally delayed?

As soon as it is recognized that the young child is developmentally delayed, prompt treatment and intervention will help the child to reach his optimal level of development. The first 24 months of a normal child's life involve tremendous and rapid growth and development. Hence, the earlier the parent seeks early intervention services the better it is for the child's development.

5. Whether my child will become all right?

Mental retardation is not a disease. It is a condition caused by damage to the brain and cannot be cured by medicines. However, a child with mental retardation can be helped to learn skills and progress in many ways by training depending on the severity of retardation.

6. Whether my child can walk, talk like other children?

Children with mental retardation do learn to walk, understand and speak to a large extent. However, how far and how quickly they learn depends on the extent of the brain damage and early identification and timely intervention.

7. Why did my child get fits?

Fits are manifestation of abnormal brain functioning due to structural or biochemical changes. The common causes are

Lack of oxygen supply
Lack of glucose supply
Bleeding in the brain
Increased pressure in the brain
Abnormal growths or tumors
Accumulation of abnormal substances
Poisons or toxins
Infections
Head injuries
High fever
Dehydration

If any of these conditions damage the brain the child can get fits.

8. Will he be able to read and write like other children?

Majority of children with mental retardation will be able to learn basic reading, writing and arithmetic's, which are essential for daily living. Some of them will be

9. Who teaches academics to individuals with mental retardation?

Special teachers who have been trained in special education impart training in academic skills. Depending on the needs and resources of a given situation or special school, educators and educational psychologists may also be involved.

10. Is my child mad?

No, your child is definitely not mad. The child is slow in development and learning.

11. Is mental retardation hereditary?

It is not always that mental retardation is hereditary. However, where the cause of mental retardation is genetic it is hereditary. In such case parents are advised to go for genetic counseling before they plan for another child.

12. Will I have another child like this?

Depending on the cause there is a possibility of another child being affected. Therefore parents are advised to go for genetic counseling prior to planning for another child.

13. Are behaviour problems found more, less or same in mentally retarded individuals in comparison to intellectually normal individuals?

Behaviour problems are found to be 4 to 5 times more in mentally retarded individuals than in intellectually normal individuals

14. Can marriage be a cure for mental retardation?

Marriage is not a cure for mental retardation. If the person with mental retardation cannot understand the system of marriage and assume the needed role and responsibility, marriage can prove to be unsuccessful.

15. Do individuals with mental retardation have sexual feelings?

Individuals with mental retardation grow from childhood to the adult world sharing the same feelings, thoughts, and physical desires as non -handicapped persons. They also develop sexual feelings and sexual desires. However, the intensity of sexual expression may decrease as the severity of the disability increases.

16. Do individuals with mental retardation have sexual feelings?

16. Can individuals with mental retardation work?

Adults with mental retardation have the capacity to perform meaningful work. Mental retardation does not mean that such individuals are unable to learn, perform or work. In fact, with appropriate training techniques individuals with even relatively severe mental retardation can learn and produce product which can earn them remuneration and meaningful employment.

17. Will he be able to earn his lively hood?

With systematic and timely intervention many persons with mental retardation will be able to perform skilled, semiskilled and repetitive jobs and will be able to partially or completely support them selves financially.

18. Don't you think staying in the hostel is a better option for my child, as we do not understand child's needs?

A. No one can ever take the place of the parents in the life of the child, no matter how trained the teachers are. The success of the training for a child with mental retardation lies in the close cooperation between the professionals and the parents. It is the love and warmth of the family that helps the child grow best.

19. What is Autism?

This is by far the most frequently asked question. Briefly, it is a life long developmental disorder that typically occurs in the first three years of life. It causes impairment or disturbance in 3 main areas-Social skills, communicative skills (verbal as well as non-verbal) and in thinking. Any one or more of the senses may be affected. All these difficulties manifest themselves in different behaviors i.e. autistic persons have different ways of relenting to people, objects and events in the environment.

20. What are the benefits that the Government of India is providing for my child?

There are many benefits available to the child and their families. These are concerned mainly with travel benefits, insurance benefits, income tax exemption, educational, medical allowances and so on. There are special publications available that will give you the details of these schemes.

FAQ