What is the cause of mental retardation?
There are various known causes of mental retardation, including genetic disorders, maternal infections, psychosocial conditions, drug exposure, and environmental chemical exposure. The established risk factors for MR include:
- Various genetic disorders (e.g. Down’s Syndrome, phenylketonuria)
- Certain maternal infections during pregnancy (e.g. rubella)
- The mother who abuses substances such as alcohol during pregnancy
- Certain psychosocial conditions (e.g. problems with caregiving, low socioeconomic status, low parental education)
- Maternal exposure to various drugs (e.g. thalidomide, valproic acid)
- Maternal exposure to environmental chemicals (discussed in detail later)
The expanding scientific knowledge base has led to a rejection of the simplistic debate over "organic" versus "environmental" causes of retardation. There is a growing recognition of the interactive contributions of nature and nurture to the development of all children.