What Causes Mental Retardation In Children?
What Causes Mental Retardation In Children?
Giving birth to a child is, perhaps, the most significant event in the life of almost any woman. Though today women often prefer to follow a career rather than give birth to children, the majority of young mothers state that it is a life-changing experience. Without a doubt, a beautiful healthy child is the most valued and loved living being for every mother. But, unfortunately, a certain percentage of children are born with different deviations, both physical and mental. In relation to this, a question arises: what causes mentally challenged children to be born?
The first and foremost factor which causes mental retardation and other deviations is an excessive use of alcohol by a young mother in the prenatal period – particularly, during the first trimester (12 weeks) of pregnancy. According to statistics, at least one of over 600 children only in the United States is exposed to fetal alcohol syndrome (Encyclopedia of Children’s Health). Researches show that even moderate intakes of alcohol can affect the mental capabilities of future children. In addition, smoking tobacco (or other substances) and taking illegal drugs can also cause mental retardation.
Genetics is the second influential cause of mental retardation among children that should be taken in consideration. Inherited causes of mental retardation are numerous; for example, chances of giving birth to a mentally challenged child increase if one or both parents were mentally retarded. Sometimes, decreased mental capabilities are caused not by genetic defects or omissions, but rather by abnormalities in chromosomes – structures inside cells’ nucleus which contain genes. Down syndrome is one of such diseases (Human Illnesses).
The factors which are difficult to avoid is ecology and environment. It is not a secret that we live in the age of poor ecology. Industrial and traffic emissions, radiation, stressful factors that affect future mothers – and thus their
Giving birth to a child is, perhaps, the most significant event in the life of almost any woman. Though today women often prefer to follow a career rather than give birth to children, the majority of young mothers state that it is a life-changing experience. Without a doubt, a beautiful healthy child is the most valued and loved living being for every mother. But, unfortunately, a certain percentage of children are born with different deviations, both physical and mental. In relation to this, a question arises: what causes mentally challenged children to be born?
The first and foremost factor which causes mental retardation and other deviations is an excessive use of alcohol by a young mother in the prenatal period – particularly, during the first trimester (12 weeks) of pregnancy. According to statistics, at least one of over 600 children only in the United States is exposed to fetal alcohol syndrome (Encyclopedia of Children’s Health). Researches show that even moderate intakes of alcohol can affect the mental capabilities of future children. In addition, smoking tobacco (or other substances) and taking illegal drugs can also cause mental retardation.
Genetics is the second influential cause of mental retardation among children that should be taken in consideration. Inherited causes of mental retardation are numerous; for example, chances of giving birth to a mentally challenged child increase if one or both parents were mentally retarded. Sometimes, decreased mental capabilities are caused not by genetic defects or omissions, but rather by abnormalities in chromosomes – structures inside cells’ nucleus which contain genes. Down syndrome is one of such diseases (Human Illnesses).
The factors which are difficult to avoid is ecology and environment. It is not a secret that we live in the age of poor ecology. Industrial and traffic emissions, radiation, stressful factors that affect future mothers – and thus their