Study of Behavioural Problems in Mentally Retarded Children.

ABSTRACT

Behaviour disorders are common in children with mental retardation and in addition to the subjective distress they cause the individual, they restrict opportunities to engage in many normal activities. Methods- 50 children from age group 6-14 years were randomly selected from a special school for mentally retarded children and assessed. Results- Analysis of the data reveled 66% the children to be above cut off score. Mean CBCL score was 56.42.There was significantly higher prevalence of behaviour problems in the younger age group. There was higher prevalence of behaviour problems in children with moderate mental retardation than in children with mild mental retardation. Common behaviour problems reported were ‘ impulsive or acts without thinking’, ‘can not concentrate’ & ‘sudden changes in mood or feelings’. Common behaviour problems in younger age group were ‘impulsive’, ‘can’t concentrate’, ‘ acts too young for her age ‘ etc. and in the older group it was ‘impulsive’, ‘can not concentrate’ and ‘acts too young for her age’. Common behaviour problems in children with mild mental retardation were impulsive’, ‘can’t concentrate’, ‘Gets hurt a lot, accident prone’ etc and in children with moderate retardation were ‘can’t concentrate’, ‘bites fingernails’, ‘Gets hurt a lot, accident prone’ etc. Discussion- Analysis of the data revealed a significantly higher prevalence of behaviour problem in mentally retarded children. Behaviour problems were more in the younger age group There was higher prevalence of behaviour problems in children with moderate mental retardation than in children with mild mental retardation. No specific trend could be observed in the types of behaviour problems as regards to sex, age, income of the parents and severity of mental retardation.