J Korean Neurol Assoc.  1984 Jun;2(1):40-48.

Studies of Mentally Handicapped Children and Learning Disonders

• Koh CJ

Abstract

700 mentally handicapped child and children with learning disorders were investigated to find out the causes or clinical diagnosis at department of Pediatrics, Yousei Medical School. The abilities of individual child was evaluated for their further education and training. And following results were obtaine. 1. The clinical diagnosis or the cause was not able to make in 233 cases, 33.3%, out of 700. 2. The rest, 64.7%, represented various clinical diagnosis, the most common casuses were cerebral paly, microcephaly, 42.7%, 19.9% respectively. 3. Other various causes vere as follow. Mentally handicapped children related to epilepsy was 107%, children with chromosomal anomalies 4.7%, with CNS anomalies 2.1%, with vascular diseases 5.4%, endocrine disorder 2.6%, muscle disorder 3%, phagomatosis 2.7%, metabolic disorder 1%, encephalopathy and poisoning related disorder was 1% respectively. The CNS infection was 2.6%, syndromes with funny looking face without chromosomal anomalies 1.6%, Psychiatric disorder 0.7%. Developmental disorder was quite common causes of learning disorder which represented 22.2%. Among 700, children with mutism was 1.6% and blind child was 1.4%. 4. Their abilities was evaluated by Griffiths Developmental Scale and WISK testes for further education and training. 89.6% requires physiotherapy or occupational therapy, 95% required speech therapy. 5. Exact evaluation and assessment for mentally handicapped children should be based on well qualified specialistes of various fields working as a team with mutural understanding and exchanging their knowledges. Organization of assessment unit for mentally handicapped children as well as learning disorders is required for efficient assessment and training of staffes. 6. Participation of clinical psychologist and teachers during the process of assessment would great helpful not only to assessing but also teaching these children. We do know that speech therpist and occupational therapist is lack in number. And organization training project of these therapist should established soon as possible.

MeSH Terms

Child*
Diagnosis
Education
Epilepsy
Humans
Learning Disorders
Learning*
Mentally Disabled Persons*
Microcephaly
Muscular Diseases
Mutism
Occupational Therapy
Pediatrics
Poisoning
Psychology
Schools, Medical
Specialization
Speech Therapy
Testis
Vascular Diseases