PREVALENCE OF MENTAL RETARDATION IN A PEDIATRIC OUTPATIENT CLINIC POPULATION

Abstract

For a period of 4 weeks, all children coming to the pediatric outpatient clinics at Babies and Childrens Hospital were screened for possible mental retardation. On the basis of history and clinical observation, 125 were referred to a special diagnostic team. Of these, 68 proved to have measured intelligence below 75 which gives an over-all prevalence rate for this clinic population of 9.4%. This is higher than previously reported prevalence rates indicating that this is a high-risk population. The results of this investigation contrasted with the results of other surveys in that (1) the number of severely retarded nearly approximated the number of mildly retarded (42.6 compared with 57.4%); (2) a definite medical diagnosis was established in the majority of cases 54.4%); and (3) the cases were fairly evenly distributed over the total age range with about 10% prevalence in the children under the age of 5 years. A high percentage (nearly 42%) of the school-age clinic children of normal intelligence had a history of academic failure. Mental retardation is presented as a modifiable symptom rather than a disease which must follow a predetermined course. The children identified as retarded by this survey may not be permanently handicapped but they are assumed to have special needs. The implications for pediatric management and preventive services are briefly discussed.