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MILD MENTAL RETARDATION IN SWEDISH SCHOOL CHILDREN
Author(s) -
HAGBERG B.,
HAGBERG G.,
LEWERTH A.,
LINDBERG U.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
acta pædiatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/j.1651-2227.1981.tb05721.x
Subject(s) - medicine , etiology , pediatrics , cerebral palsy , asphyxia , psychiatry , fetal alcohol syndrome , perinatal asphyxia , pregnancy , biology , genetics
. Hagberg, B., Hagberg, G., Lewerth, A. and Lindberg, U. (Department of Paediatrics II, Östra Sjukhuset, Gothenburg, Sweden) Mild mental retardation in Swedish school children. II. Etiologic and pathogenetic aspects. Acta Paediatr Scand, 70:445,.–The etiology and pathogenesis of mild mental retardation (MMR) (IQ 50–70) were analysed in an unselected series of 91 Swedish school children with this condition born 1966‐70. The cause was considered to be prenatal in 23 %, including 5 % genetic, prenatal unknown in 10% and alcohol fetopathy in 8%. A perinatal cause–mainly asphyxia combined with fetal deprivation–was found in 18 % and a postnatal in 2 %. In 55 % the cause was untraceable. Half of these latter children had close relatives with below‐average intelligence. Exceptionally low birth weights and lengths were revealed among the 8 % with alcohol fetopathy. Neurological abnormalities were found in 43 % of the children, epilepsy in 12 %, cerebral palsy in 9 % and a clumsy child syndrome in 23 %. Psychiatric disturbances were present in 31 %.–The types and multitudes of predisposing background factors in MMR were compared with those in severe mental retardation and with those in the IQ group 71–75. The general conclusion is drawn that in Swedish school children negative pre‐ and perinatal factors are today responsible for a larger proportion of MMR than has previously been known.