Mental Retardation: Diagnosis, Management, and Family Support

Abstract

T he direct and indirect economic costs associated with mental retardation in the United States are significant: 51.2 billion dollars (2003 dollars) for persons born in 2000. This represents a significant and ongoing economic impact, especially since the beneficial effect of numerous intervention and prevention programs such as newborn screening for metabolic disorders (phenylketonuria, hypothyroidism) have likely already been realized by the time of this birth cohort. There continue to be multiple etiologies for mental retardation despite the successful interventions directed at these high-severity, lowfrequency disorders. Lifetime indirect costs (ie, productivity losses) far exceed direct health and educational costs, emphasizing the need to address the physical, social, and economic factors that limit the functional participation of persons with mental retardation. The number of children classified as “mentally retarded” receiving services in federally funded educational programs has stabilized over the past 9 years between 1.26 and 1.28%. During this same period, the number of children identified as “learning disabled” or as having “autism” has increased. Educational support remains a primary intervention for individuals with all levels of mental retardation and is guaranteed under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. It is for these reasons that better efforts to understand the reasons for mental retardation and to develop effective strategies to both prevent, whenever possible, and minimize the impact of mental retardation on individuals, their families, and their communities continue to be important.