Can an adult become mentally retarded?

Question

Mental retardation supposedly is diagnosed in childhood, but can an individual become "retarded" over time?

Answer 1

I am researching disability in Australia, so I am not sure if this will help, but I can try!

We do not use the term retarded, instead preferring the term intellectual disability. People with an intellectual disability develop this during the developmental period (0 to 18 years of age). Later on, if someone receives head trauma in an accident etc - this is referred to as acquired brain injury. For people who lose some brain functions due to other illnesses - we refer to the specific illness (dementia etc).

Answer 2

The type of mental retardation diagnosed in childhood is typically called a developmental disability. This is because of some condition inherent to the child causes difficulties with normal brain development. So, since adults have developed brains, they can't be "retarded" in their development. They can, however, lose cognitive abilities, either through a brain injury, a medical condition which causes dysfunction in the brain or a dementia. They lose abilities which they previously had, so it's not the same as children who fail to develop abilities.

Answer 3

literally? yes retarded means "slowed" many things retard the mind.
accidents, drugs, stress, sleep dreppravation, ect. In this sense this can permanant or temporary.

Tecnically? no. The retardation I think you speak of is caused by an excessive Y chromosome (down syndrome). That would have to occur before birth.

Answer 4

Yes, by brain trauma. This isn't the same as being born retarded, but it produces similar effects (lack of ability to learn, very poor memory, poor impulse control, poor ability to think and compare, poor ability to communicate, and so on). Not pleasant!

Answer 5

No, human beings's IQs do no longer purely drop 40 factors in 3 years. Your IQ would not extremely replace plenty previous a definite age. perhaps you're no longer getting adequate sleep? perhaps you're no longer drawing close textile the comparable way you used to? we would actually in basic terms be guessing.

Answer 6

ya ,, my family is retarded. and they were not always this way..
seriously thou. I do have a brother who is in a mental ward. he lost his short term memory. he died and was revived, and died again, lost to much oxygen, and therefore causing brain damage. he lost it.. so to speak.

Answer 7

If this happens, it is due to a pre-existing condition that was not diagnosed.

Answer 8

i personaly think so