Mild mental retardation: what it is, characteristics and what to do

Mild mental retardation, or mild intellectual disability, is characterized by discrete difficulties in learning, communicating and daily tasks, and is identified through tests that assess intelligence when the intelligence quotient (IQ) is between 50 and 70.

This type of intellectual disability is more common in males and is normally noticed in childhood through observation of the child’s behavior and learning and interaction difficulties, for example.

If mild mental retardation is suspected, it is important to consult a pediatric neurologist, for children and adolescents, or a neurologist, for adults. Treatment may involve measures to stimulate learning, such as tutoring, psychotherapy and behavioral therapy.

Main features

The main characteristics of mild mental retardation are:

• Immaturity compared to people of the same age;
• School difficulties, due to difficulties with reading, writing or mathematics, for example;
• Impairment of the ability to make judgments.
• Difficulties with organization and planning in daily tasks;
• Inadequate assessment of dangerous situations;
• Little understanding of abstract thoughts, such as the meaning of metaphors and proverbs;
• Difficulty dealing with money;
• Impulsiveness;
• Difficulty during social interactions.

The characteristics of mild mental retardation can vary from one person to another and, in more severe degrees, can greatly impair the development of independence and quality of life. Check the degrees of mental retardation and symptoms.

How to confirm the diagnosis

The diagnosis of mild mental retardation is normally made in childhood or adolescence by a neuropediatrician taking into account changes in the child’s behavior, difficulties in daily and/or school tasks and test results, such as neuropsychological assessment.

If you want to make an appointment, you can find the neurologist closest to you using the tool below:

Through neuropsychological assessment it is possible to assess the intelligence coefficient (IQ), which when between 70 and 50 is indicative of mild mental retardation. Understand what IQ is and how to measure it.

Possible causes

Mild mental retardation can be caused by:

• Genetic changes;
• Consumption of alcohol, drugs and some medications during pregnancy;
• Difficulties during childbirth;
• Infectious diseases in the mother during pregnancy, such as HIV or rubella;
• Head trauma;
• Diseases, such as meningitis or encephalitis, in childhood.

Furthermore, mild mental retardation is more common when illnesses such as asthma, high blood pressure or urinary tract infections are not treated adequately during pregnancy, and it is important to carry out prenatal care in accordance with the obstetrician’s guidance. Understand better what prenatal care is and when to start.

What to do

A person with mild mental retardation should be monitored by a neurologist or pediatrician, in childhood, and a neurologist, for adults. Therapies such as speech therapy, psychotherapy and occupational therapy may also be indicated, depending on the difficulties identified.

Especially for children and adolescents with mild mental retardation and school difficulties, measures such as tutoring and access to a mediating teacher may be indicated with the aim of stimulating learning.

In case of mild mental retardation, the use of medication is usually not necessary. However, it is important to properly treat diseases such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, anxiety and epilepsy, if any.

Is mild mental retardation curable?

Mild mental retardation has no cure. However, people with mild mental retardation can live independently, build a family and get a job in some cases, especially when they have support from family members and treatment is started early.