Down's Syndrome (Mongolism)

The term mongolism has been used in referring to this syndrome because persons so afflicted frequently have almond-shaped slanting eyes. A number of physical features are often found among children with Downs syndrome, but very few of these children have all of the characteristics commonly thought of as typifying this group. In addition to slanting eyes, the skin of the eyelids tends to be abnormally thick; the face and nose are often flat and broad, as is the back of the head; and the tongue, which seems too large for the mouth, may show deep fissures. The iris of the eye is frequently speckled. The neck is often short and broad, as are the hands, which tend to have creases across the palms. The fingers are stubby and the little finger is often more noticeable curved than the other fingers. Mongoloids are particularly susceptible to circulatory, gastrointestinal, and respiratory disorders. However, antibiotics, better medical care, and a more healthful and stimulating environment are increasing the life expectancy of many of the victims of this disorder. Research has shown that possible chromosomal anomalies lead to this disorder. Subsequent studies have shown that 95 percent of people with Downs syndrome have 47 chromosomes instead of the normal component of 46 resulting from a trisomy of chromosome 21. (Normally chromosomes have no extra arm, but in this condition there is a presence of an extra arm on chromosome 21.) The reason of trisomy of chromosome 21 is not clear, but the anomaly would appear to result from defective genes leading to some malfunction in the mechanics of the growth process. Trisomy of chromosome 21 is influenced by metabolic factors, but it is also possible that the older the mother, the greater the probability of exposure to radiation that may result in gene mutation. There is no known effective treatment. When parents have had a child with Downs syndrome, they are usually quite concerned about having further children. In such cases genetic counseling may provide some indication of the risk which may be quite small of abnormality in additional children. Microcephaly The term microcephaly means "small headedness". It refers to a type of mental retardation resulting from impaired development of the brain and a consequent failure of the cranium to attain normal size. The most obvious characteristics of microcephalic is his small head, the circumference of which rarely exceeds 17 inches, as compared with normal of approximately 22 inches. Microcephalics differ considerably from each other in appearance, although there is a tendency for the skull to be coned shaped, with a receding chin and forehead. Microcephalics fall within the moderate, severe, and profound categories of mental retardation, but the majority shows little language development and is extremely limited in mental capacity. Microcephaly may result from a wide range of factors that impair brain development, including intrauterine infections and pelvic irradiation of the mother during the early months of pregnancy. A number of cases of microcephaly that occurred in Hiroshima and Nagasaki apparently resulted from atomic bomb explosions during World War II. The role of genetic factors is not clear yet. The treatment is ineffective once faulty development has occurred, and, at present, preventive measures focus on the avoidance of infection and radiation during pregnancy. Hydrocephalus Hydrocephalus is a relatively rare condition in which the accumulation of an abnormal amount of cerebrospinal fluid within the cranium causes damage to the brain tissues and enlargement of the cranium. In congenital cases of hydrocephalus, the head is either already enlarged at birth or begins to enlarge soon thereafter, presumably as a result of a disturbance in the formation, absorption, or circulation of the cerebrospinal fluid. The disorder can also develop in infancy or early childhood following the development of a brain tumor, subdural hemetoma,(clot in the brain covering), meningitis,(infection of brain covering) or

other such conditions. Here the condition appears to result from a blockage of the cerebrospinal pathways and an accumulation of fluid in certain brain areas. The clinical picture of hydrocephalus depends on the extent of neural damage, which, in turn, depends on the age at onset and the duration and severity of disorder. In chronic cases the chief symptom is the gradual enlargement of the upper part of the head out of all proportion to the face and the rest of the body. While the expansion of the skull helps minimize destructive pressure on the brain, serious brain damage occurs nonetheless, leading to intellectual impairment and such other effects as convulsions and impairment or loss of sight and hearing. The degree of intellectual impairment varies, being severe or profound in advanced cases. A good deal of attention has been directed to the surgical treatment of hydrocephalus, and with early diagnosis and treatment this condition can usually be arrested before severe brain damage has occurred.

The Words Moron, Imbecile, and Idiot Mean Different Things

DAVEN HISKEY MARCH 31, 2010 21

Today I found out the words moron, imbecile, and idiot mean different things. In psychology, an idiot has the least intelligence on the IQ scale (this now is equivalent to someone who is mentally retarded or the more politically correct mentally challenged); an imbecile is not quite as dumb as an idiot and is now considered equivalent to moderate retardation; a moron is then the highest level of intelligence for someone who is mentally retarded, thus considered as being mildly mentally retarded. Specifically, those who have an IQ between 0 and 25 are idiots; IQs between 26 and 50 are considered imbeciles; and those who have an IQ between 51 and 70 are considered morons. These terms were popular in psychology as associated with intelligence on an IQ test until around the 1960s. They were then replaced with the terms mild retardation, moderate retardation, severe retardation, and profound retardation. In addition to this, other factors besides IQ are now used in diagnosing these levels of mental deficiency.

Moron (psychology)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Moron is a term once used in psychology to denote mild mental retardation.[1] The term was closely tied with the American eugenics movement.[2] Once the term became popularized, it fell out of use by the psychological community, as it was used more commonly as an insult than as a psychological term.

Origin and uses

"Moron" was coined in 1910 by psychologist Henry H. Goddard[3] from the Ancient Greek word (moros), which meant "dull"[4] (as opposed to oxy, which meant "sharp" (see also:oxymoron)), and used to describe a person with a mental age in adulthood of between 8 and 12 on the Binet scale.[5] It was once applied to people with an IQ of 5170, being superior in one degree to "imbecile" (IQ of 2650) and superior in two degrees to "idiot" (IQ of 025). The word moron, along with others including, "idiotic", "imbecilic", "stupid", and "feebleminded", was formerly considered a valid descriptor in the psychological community, but it is now deprecated in use by psychologists

It's true there's a difference. The three terms didn't start out as social insults either, in fact. In the early 1900s, psychologists used the terms to describe various levels of retardation. Those with an IQ of 0 to 25 (an IQ of 100 is average) were called idiots, 26 to 50 were called imbeciles and 51 to 70 were called morons. Morons could communicate and learn common tasks; imbeciles stalled mentally at about six years old; and idiots couldn't respond to stimulus or communicate with any level of competency.