Résumé
All the parents of the children attending a Day Care Center for the Mentally Retarded in Oman were administrred a questionnaire. The questionnaire covered three main areas: [a] possible medical cause of mental retardation, [b] socio-economic background of the family, and [c] parental attitudes and needs. The Stanford Binet Test of Intelligence was used to assess the intellectual ability of the children. Consanguinity between the parents of the mentally retarded children and a significant history of medical illness was found in the mentally retarded children. Majority of the children came from families of lower socio-economic status with low levels of education in the parents. The children come from large families [average size 9] where circumstances do not permit much attention or care to be given to the mentally retarded child. The parents felt the need of help and guidance in dealing with their mentally retarded children