Introduction
Mental retardation is a condition characterized by limitations in performance that result from significant impairments in intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior, expressed as abnormal conceptual, social, and adaptive skills that occurs before age 18. Mental retardation can occur in any family and cuts across all racial, educational, social and economic backgrounds. The degree of impairment can be divided into mild (IQ 50- 70), moderate (IQ 35-50), and severe (IQ 20-35).
Mental retardation can be caused by any condition which impairs development of the brain before birth, during birth or in the childhood years. For many children, the cause of their mental retardation is not known. Some of the most common known causes of mental retardation like Down syndrome, fetal alcohol syndrome, fragile X syndrome, genetic conditions, birth defects, and infections. Still other causes of intellectual disability do not occur until a child is older; these might include serious head injury, stroke, or certain infections. The causes may be heterogeneous such as genetic, metabolic, environmental or infections. The person with mental retardation experiences difficulties in coping with various environments because he or she lacks the mental, emotional and social skills.
Teaching Strategies for Mental Retardation are one of the best approaches to use to modify Child Behavior Problems. For mild to severe mentally disabled children use behavioral objectives. Behavior objectives must be stated very specifically and in observable and measurable terms, you need to think about how the behavior will be measured only then you can come up with solutions. Writing effective behavior objective requires a great deal of practice, be prepared to reflect on your objectives and learn from them. You will soon find out what works and what doesn't. It is helpful to break down learning tasks into smaller steps and to introduce each learning task, one