Characteristics of Persons with Mild Mental Retardation BeirneSmith

Characteristics of Persons with Mild Mental Retardation Beirne-Smith et al. Mental Retardation, Seventh Edition (c) 2006 by Pearson Education. All Rights Reserved. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved.

Overview • According to the 2002 definition offered by AAMR, this group scores at least two standard deviations below the mean on intellectual and adaptive measures. • Approximately 85% of people with intellectual disabilities are classified as “mild” • Often not diagnosed until entering school Beirne-Smith et al. Mental Retardation, Seventh Edition (c) 2006 by Pearson Education. All Rights Reserved. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved.

Demographics • Disproportionately male • Disproportionately from minority racial and ethnic groups • Disproportionately from lower socioeconomic homes • Numbers are affected by periodic changes in the definition of mental retardation Beirne-Smith et al. Mental Retardation, Seventh Edition (c) 2006 by Pearson Education. All Rights Reserved. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved.

Motivational and Sociobehavioral Characteristics Beirne-Smith et al. Mental Retardation, Seventh Edition (c) 2006 by Pearson Education. All Rights Reserved. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved.

Motivational Characteristics • External Locus of Control – Learned Helplessness – Under-developed sense of self-determination • Expectancy of Failure • Outer-directedness Beirne-Smith et al. Mental Retardation, Seventh Edition (c) 2006 by Pearson Education. All Rights Reserved. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved.

Sociobehavioral Characteristics Potential Problem Areas • • disruptiveness low self-esteem over-activity distractibility and other attention-related problems • interpersonal cognitive problem solving • establishing and maintaining interpersonal relationships • inappropriate behavior Beirne-Smith et al. Mental Retardation, Seventh Edition (c) 2006 by Pearson Education. All Rights Reserved. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved.

Sociobehavioral Characteristics Mental Health Disorders • Two- to three-fold higher rate than the general population • Difficulties in diagnosis due to differences in behavioral manifestations Beirne-Smith et al. Mental Retardation, Seventh Edition (c) 2006 by Pearson Education. All Rights Reserved. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved.

Sociobehavioral Characteristics Impact of Deficits • More frequent peer rejection • Vicious cycle of rejection and failure • Risk for restrictive placement Beirne-Smith et al. Mental Retardation, Seventh Edition (c) 2006 by Pearson Education. All Rights Reserved. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved.

Learning Characteristics Beirne-Smith et al. Mental Retardation, Seventh Edition (c) 2006 by Pearson Education. All Rights Reserved. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved.

Cognitive Development • Quantitative Perspective – Mental Age – Slower Development • Qualitative Perspective – Difference Model – Uneven Development Beirne-Smith et al. Mental Retardation, Seventh Edition (c) 2006 by Pearson Education. All Rights Reserved. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved.

Learning Processes Attention • Selective Attention – the ability to attend to the relevant aspects of the task at hand to discard the irrelevant aspects – Low selective attention = distractibility • Sustained Attention – the ability to maintain one’s concentration long enough to process and comprehend the information – Low sustained attention = short attention span Beirne-Smith et al. Mental Retardation, Seventh Edition (c) 2006 by Pearson Education. All Rights Reserved. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved.

• • Helping Individuals with Mild Intellectual Disability to Increase Attention to Task allow more trials allow more time present fewer task steps/components remove extraneous information increase difficulty more slowly teach decision making rules provide prompts for focusing attention Beirne-Smith et al. Mental Retardation, Seventh Edition (c) 2006 by Pearson Education. All Rights Reserved. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved.

Mediation Strategies Organization & Storage of Information For learners with mild intellectual disabilities: • Present grouped information • Use examples that are familiar • Teach mnemonics Beirne-Smith et al. Mental Retardation, Seventh Edition (c) 2006 by Pearson Education. All Rights Reserved. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved.

Memory • Memory deficits in mild intellectual disability result from – lack of selective attention – inefficient or nonexistent rehearsal strategies – delay in developing learning sets – problems generalizing learned skills to new settings, with different people, or in different ways Beirne-Smith et al. Mental Retardation, Seventh Edition (c) 2006 by Pearson Education. All Rights Reserved. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved.

Memory • Long-term memory in people with mild intellectual disability works about as well as for people with no intellectual disability • Short-term memory is affected by the deficits described on previous slide • Executive control functions appear to be under-developed Beirne-Smith et al. Mental Retardation, Seventh Edition (c) 2006 by Pearson Education. All Rights Reserved. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved.

Observational Learning • Learning through watching appears to be a good approach, given the tendency towards outerdirectedness • Suggestions: – be aware that any behavior (even unwanted ones) may serve as a model – use prompts or cues to direct students’ attention – call attention to students exhibiting desirable behavior – ignore undesirable behavior so that others do not model it in an attempt to gain attention, – reward imitation of appropriate behavior. Beirne-Smith et al. Mental Retardation, Seventh Edition (c) 2006 by Pearson Education. All Rights Reserved. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved.

Speech and Language Characteristics Beirne-Smith et al. Mental Retardation, Seventh Edition (c) 2006 by Pearson Education. All Rights Reserved. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved.

Common Speech Problems • Articulation – Sound substitution – Sound omission, addition, or distortion • Voice • Stuttering Beirne-Smith et al. Mental Retardation, Seventh Edition (c) 2006 by Pearson Education. All Rights Reserved. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved.

Common Language Disorders • Delayed language development • Restricted vocabulary Beirne-Smith et al. Mental Retardation, Seventh Edition (c) 2006 by Pearson Education. All Rights Reserved. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved.

Causes • Language Disorders – Intrinsic link between language and intelligence – Cultural deprivation – Lack of a model • Speech Disorders – Motor dysfunction – Hearing impairment – Physical impairments (e. g. , tongue protrusion) Beirne-Smith et al. Mental Retardation, Seventh Edition (c) 2006 by Pearson Education. All Rights Reserved. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved.

Physical Health Characteristics Beirne-Smith et al. Mental Retardation, Seventh Edition (c) 2006 by Pearson Education. All Rights Reserved. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved.

Sensorimotor Deficits • Potential Motor Deficits – Balance – Locomotion – manipulative dexterity • Potential Sensory Deficits – Sight – Color-Blindness – Hearing Beirne-Smith et al. Mental Retardation, Seventh Edition (c) 2006 by Pearson Education. All Rights Reserved. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved.

Down Syndrome Health-Related Problems • heart defects – surgical procedures can be successful in correcting • lung abnormalities – susceptibility to upper respiratory infections • Leukemia – risk is higher than in the normal population. • • • eye and ear infections obesity skin problems of the teeth and gums hearing impairments Beirne-Smith et al. Mental Retardation, Seventh Edition (c) 2006 by Pearson Education. All Rights Reserved. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved.

Seizure Disorders • Absence Seizures – Short staring spells • Tonic-Clonic Seizures – Jerking – Possible loss of consciousness – Safety precautions • • • Clear the immediate area Loosen tight clothing When possible, turn the person on their side Stay with them Allow rest following the seizure Call emergency personnel if seizure lasts more than five minutes Beirne-Smith et al. Mental Retardation, Seventh Edition (c) 2006 by Pearson Education. All Rights Reserved. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved.

General Health Concerns • Substance Abuse – Reduced rates – Increased susceptibility • Nutrition – Risks include poverty, poor supervision, or lack of understanding • Illness and Disease – Increased risk due to poverty and secondary conditions • Accidents and Injury – Risks include poor coordination, poor judgment, impaired reasoning, and secondary conditions • Physical Activity – Important for emotional and physical health Beirne-Smith et al. Mental Retardation, Seventh Edition (c) 2006 by Pearson Education. All Rights Reserved. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved.

Educational Characteristics Beirne-Smith et al. Mental Retardation, Seventh Edition (c) 2006 by Pearson Education. All Rights Reserved. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved.

Placement Options • More students with intellectual disabilities are being served in general education now than in the past • Students with intellectual disabilities are more likely than students with other disabilities to be served in separate classes or separate facilities • Research indicates special and general education personnel may not be appropriately prepared to teach students with intellectual disabilities in the regular classroom Beirne-Smith et al. Mental Retardation, Seventh Edition (c) 2006 by Pearson Education. All Rights Reserved. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved.

Curriculum • Most research favors a broad-based curriculum that prepares the student for life after school • IEP analysis indicates an emphasis on academic goals Beirne-Smith et al. Mental Retardation, Seventh Edition (c) 2006 by Pearson Education. All Rights Reserved. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved.

General • Not every person who has mental retardation may display all the characteristics discussed in this chapter. • The “mild” label refers to individuals who require few or no supports systems in most adaptive skills areas. • People with mild intellectual disabilities are a heterogeneous group. • These individuals have been referred to as educable or trainable in the past. Beirne-Smith et al. Mental Retardation, Seventh Edition (c) 2006 by Pearson Education. All Rights Reserved. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved.

Demographics • More males than females are identified. • Historically there have been a disproportionate number of racially different and ethnic minority children labeled with mild mental retardation. • Recent data support the description that many youth with intellectual disabilities live in blended families and come from families characterized by lower socioeconomic status. Beirne-Smith et al. Mental Retardation, Seventh Edition (c) 2006 by Pearson Education. All Rights Reserved. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved.

Learning and Motivation • Motivational characteristics include external locus of control, expectancy for failure, outer-directedness, and more limited self-regulatory behaviors. • Social and behavioral problems are more likely, with some students displaying psychiatric problems as well. • There is some difference of opinion whether cognitive development is qualitatively or quantitatively different from the general population. • Various processes (attention, mediation strategies, memory, generalization) associated with learning can be problematic for this group. Beirne-Smith et al. Mental Retardation, Seventh Edition (c) 2006 by Pearson Education. All Rights Reserved. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved.

Speech, Language, & Health • Speech and language problems occur with great frequency among individuals with intellectual disabilities. • Delayed language development frequently is a characteristic Motor development may be delayed in children who are retarded. • Sensory deficits are more common among persons who have intellectual disabilities. • Individuals with Down syndrome have a number of physical health considerations. • Cerebral palsy and seizure disorders occur more frequently in persons who have intellectual disabilities. • The data on the extent of substance abuse in this group are equivocal at this time. Beirne-Smith et al. Mental Retardation, Seventh Edition (c) 2006 by Pearson Education. All Rights Reserved. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved.

Educational Characteristics • Students with mental retardation are being served more frequently in general education classrooms for greater portions of the school day. • Studies of IEP goals indicate a predominance of academic goals. • Many students who have intellectual disabilities qualify for related services. • The school exit rate for students with mental retardation has remained fairly stable over the past 5 years. Beirne-Smith et al. Mental Retardation, Seventh Edition (c) 2006 by Pearson Education. All Rights Reserved. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved.