What population groups experience mental retardation?

Mental retardation can be found in men and women of all ages, races, cultures and economic conditions.

Is mental retardation a permanent condition?

Typically, mental retardation is a lifelong condition.

How does mental retardation differ from mental illness?

Mental retardation and mental illness are not the same condition, although they can occur in the same person.  Unlike mental illness, mental retardation is always associated with limited intellectual capacity, strikes before age 18 and is often a lifelong condition.

How many categories of mental retardation exist?

Different categorizations of mental retardation are often used. These are intended to facilitate communication about an individual. One set of categories that has long been in use refers to the intellectual level of the individual. This includes the categories of:

• Mild (IQ 55 to 70)
• Moderate (IQ 40 to 54)
• Severe (IQ 25 to 39)
• Profound (IQ below 25)

People with mental retardation also are often categorized by their overall level of adaptive behavior, with a range of I to IV. These four categories reflect a range of daily functioning skills from only minimal limitations in some areas to significant limitations in most areas of functioning.

A new classification scheme being used in Texas is based on the intensity of supports needed by the individual. The scheme includes the following categories:

• Intermittent -- Individuals in this category demonstrate very independent living skills, with no significant challenging behaviors noted. An adult typically lives in an apartment with support or at home with family.
• Limited -- Skills of individuals in this category range from fairly independent to some personal care reminders/guidance required. Behavior intervention or hands-on personal care assistance may be required. Intervention varies from reminders to 24-hour guidance and support. This individual may possibly be living in an apartment with support, with natural or foster care families or in a shift pattern residential setting.
• Extensive -- Skills of individuals in this category range from no self-help skills (due to physical limitation) to demonstrating some basic self-help skills. Intervention includes personal care assistance utilizing hands-on techniques.
• Pervasive -- The individuals in this category have limited basic self-help skills and may demonstrate challenging behavior also. These individuals may even require 1:1 supervision or care during certain periods.
• Pervasive Plus -- These individuals require 1:1 supervision during waking hours to assure their safety and that of others because of potentially dangerous behavior.

How many Texans have some form of mental retardation?

It is estimated that about 2.7 percent of the population has mental retardation.

• In 2000, approximately  555,413 Texans have some form of mental retardation.  In 1999, approximately    545,900 Texans had some form of mental retardation.
• In 2000, approximately 20,328 of these individuals have severe or profound mental retardation. In 1999, approximately 20,000 of these persons had severe or profound mental retardation.

How many children and adolescents with mental retardation are in the school system?

There were approximately 24,970 children and adolescents with mental retardation and 2,709 children and adolescents with multiple disabilities in the school system in 1999. The total of these two groups is 27,679.

Source: Texas Education Agency, December 1998

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