Is autism and mental retardation the same? In the 2001 film "I Am Sam", was Sam autistic or retarded?

Question

Is it possible for an autistic not to be retarded ar the other way around (i.e. a retardate not to be autistic)? I'm just curious

Answer 1

autism and mental retardation are two different conditions.

mental retardation is a state of functioning that originates before the age of 18, characterized by deficits in intellectual functioning and adaptive behaviors. it can be diagnosed as a singular disability; or as a CONCOMITANT condition of another disability (like autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, etc)

autism on the other hand is defined in so many ways by different people. there are different subtypes for every definition given but what is common among the definitions is the following: it is a syndrome ( a collection of identifyng symptoms) characterized by a triad of impairments: socialization, communication/ imagination, and restricted behavior. the subtypes would show you where mental retardation and autism meets.

there is a subtype of autism called "autistic savant" where children possess a SPLINTER SKILL in one or several areas despite having autism. they can be very good in numbers, very good in balancing, or very good in dates, among others. this confuses the public on whether people with autism are "gifted" people, because in their own right, they are gifted in certain fields. the subtype "autistic savant" therefore tells you that they are not "gifted" in the strict sense of the word, but they have splinter skills despite having autism. only 10% of people with autism are categorized as "savant." Rainman falls under this subtype, a RARE condition.

there is a subtype called Asperger's syndrome (high functioning child with autism). and while there are no extraordinary splinter skills, children with Asperger's syndrome are generally good in academics but display autistic characteristics.

but no matter the subtype to which people with autism fall under, statistics show that 75% of them have Mental Retardation and that 35%-40% are likely to have a late onset of epilepsy (adolescents).

this goes to show that children diagnosed as having autism may or may not have mental retardation, but the probability is big: 75%. on the other hand, children with mental retardation SHOULD NOT have autism when diagnosed as such-- otherwise they fall under "autism with concomitant condition of mental retardation" and not mental retardation. Forest Gump falls under mental retardation (slow in so many ways but DOES NOT have autism). Sam falls under mental retardation, too, or mentally challenged as some people would rather call them. He is also slow, but does not have autism.

to conclude:

1. people diagnosed as having mental retardation CANNOT have autism
2. people diagnosed as having autism MAY or MAY NOT have mental retardation. the presence of MR does not alter the diagnosis as having "autism"

Answer 2

No, they are not the same. Mental retardation refers to the level of cognitive ability (brain processes) and learning capability. A person who is classified as mentally retarded has a delay in cognitive functioning. Autism is an entirely different classification of symptoms. However, children with autism can have mental retardation- not always though. Mentally retarded people are not necessarily autistic.

Answer 3

Not the same.

Autism is about being "blind" to social cues, not being able to communicate especially with non-verbal skills, and getting messages from senses that do NOT fit "normal" (Sensory Integration Dysfunction http://www.sensoryint.com/). While it can happen along with mental retardation, it is NOT the same thing. There are autistics smart enough to hold Ph.D.'s!

http://www.autism-resources.com/autismfaq-defi.html

http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer?pagename=WhatisAutism


Mental retardation is slow learning, in all areas of skill (academic, life skills, communication, etc.). People are considered MR when they are so slow in their learning that their skills match someone 1/3 or more younger than they really are (e.g. an 18 year old who thinks and acts like a 12 year old). To "retard" means "to slow down" .. it is also a term used in music.

http://www.aamr.org/Policies/faq_mental_retardation.shtml


In "I Am Sam," he was moderately MR.

Answer 4

Mental retardation refers to intellectual ability (i.e. an IQ of less than 70). Autism is a diagnosis that falls under the categroy of Pervasive Development Disorder (PDD). Someone who has Autism will usually have lower academic skills, but is not necessarily MR unless they meet the IQ criteria.

Autism, however, is not an entire spectrum. PDD is. Someone with Asperger's Syndrome (another PDD similar to autism) may be very intelligent, but still have the stereotypical Autism/Asperge's behaviors.

Perseveration on a single action. (i.e. tapping, rocking, specific body movements, repeating phrases, etc)

Inability to properly understand social cues. (May laugh or cry at inappropriate times, may "over react" to a given situation)

Often are sensitive to loud noises or high pitch sounds.

So the answer is yes, it is possible to be MR and not have Autism and vice versa.

Answer 5

sam was mentally retarded
autism is not the same is retardation in any way. see the movie autism is a world or look more into it because its not something you can give a short explanation for

Answer 6

They are not the same. Austism is emotional retardation, and they can extremely bright, for example "The Rain Man", his ability to count, ect. Where as mentally retarded can mean low IQ, "Forest Gump", he was on the line, sweet as ever, but a little slow.

Answer 7

For one thing please get the vocabulary correct. Would you like to be always addressed by "That blonde girl"? A person with autism doesn't have to have mental retardation. Most people with autism are very quite smart.

Answer 8

http://www.daylon.com/autism/

There's a link to a paper I wrote on the topic during my senior year in college. Hope it's somewhat helpful

Answer 9

no they are not the same.