How do doctors know when a babys born he/she is retarted?

Answer 1

Usually, you don't know at birth, unless there is an obvious thing like Down's. With my adopted daughter, we didn't know until she was 6 months (we got her at 5 months) and still not holding her head up. Now she is 3.5 years old and her official diagnosis is Global Developmental Delay with Moderate Mental Retardation. She is also Autistic. That is somoething that cannot be discovered at birth unless you test for genetic diseases that cause retardation.

NOTE TO OTHER ANSWERERS* Calm down, retardation is a medical diagnosis. I am the parent of a retarded child, so if anyone should be offended it is me, and I'm not.

Answer 2

If They Don't Catch It During A Blood Test You Get When Ur Pregnant, Then It Will Be Known When The Baby Is Born. They Can Tell By The Eyes, Ears, Nose, Reflexes, Hearing And Vision Tests.

Answer 3

What do you mean by "retarted"?

If you mean whether the baby has a mental handicap that usually won't become evident until later in the baby's development. Even Downs Syndrome isn't always immediately recognisable in a newborn baby. It can take a few months for the symptoms of mental handicap to be recognised - as a previous poster says, a 6 month old who isn't holding her head up would suggest mental handicap.

Answer 4

Unless there is an obvious abnormality (like Down syndrome), it is often almost impossible to know at birth if a child has mental disabilities. Even with cerebral palsy, which can be caused by traumatic conditions surrounding the birth, it can take up to a year to really know if the child is affected. Doctors watch for the child to meet certain milestones, and if they are not met, they start testing and looking for other signs of mental retardation.

ETA: It is sometimes acceptable to use the word "retarded" (although it may not be the best choice), but please use what is known as "people first" language. Don't label someone - instead, refer to a person with _____ disability (ex. a child with autism, not an autistic child). They are a person first, the disability does not define them!

Answer 5

As one who has a sister who is mentally challenged, I have to say, the use of the term 'retarded' is quite unfortunate. Ick.

My sister is mentally challenged due to lack of oxygen to the brain at birth.

There are tests that can be done, an EEG, for example, to show how the brain waves look.
Babies born with Down's Syndrome are mentally challenged.

Regardless of this, people who are mentally challenged are the most loving and compassionate people. :) Sad that others just don't have a clue about that.

I do agree with shojo, because I am familiar with the fact that retardation is a medical diagnosis. Unfortunately, that term has become widely used by people who are cruel and use it in a different connotation.

Answer 6

There are numerous tests that the nurses run on a baby just as soon as it is delivered. Google the word "Apgar" testing and see what you can find. Babies receive an apgar score at birth and a few, maybe 10, seconds later. Also, some children appear abnormal at birth. Their head, nose, hands, or ears may be different than usual.

Answer 7

Allot of times if babies have disabilities there are physical indications in facial features, like with down syndrome babies. There also is some indications sometimes in the womb, like poor growth or 2 little or 2 much amniotic fluid. Some times disabilities aren't caught in a baby until the baby isn't meeting mild stones like cooing or smiling.

Answer 8

retarded is not a word i would use..it is not always possible to tell after birth if a child as disabilities or not..i av 2 children who have cerebral palsy..they was both born early my 1st was 8wks early an my second was 11wks early..i knew some thing was wrong with my 1st when she was bout 4months old..i took her to the doctors an they told me she was ok..but i knew she wasn't..so i made the doctors do tests on her..she was 18months old when i was told she as cerebral palsy..with my second child they knew what to look for and he was about 8months old when i found out he as cerebral palsy.. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY ALL BABY'S NEED LOVE...AN I'AM BLESS TO HAVE TWO DISABLED CHILDREN

Answer 9

I'm not sure about all mental disabilities, but if a baby is born with Down Syndrome, the doctor will be able to tell by looking at its features.

Answer 10

please find a different word. developmentaly disabled is how i was taught. it depends on the degree but usually, if there are no outward symptoms such as phyisical deformities, or a suspicion of possible problems,due to complications or prematurity, it can take a few months to even considier the possibilities. the babe would have to show signs of trouble for anyone to think there could be a problem.