278 chapter 32
CAUSES OF MENTAL SLOWNESS
There are many causes.
• Often the cause is not known.
• Some children are born with a very small brain,
or the brain does not grow or work normally.
• Sometimes there is a ‘mistake’ in the
normal head size
too small head size
(microcephaly)
‘chromosomes’ or the tiny chemical messages
that determine what a child will be like
(inheritance). This is what happens in Down
syndrome.
• Sometimes a mother did not get enough of
a certain food or mineral during pregnancy.
(See “Hypothyroidism,” p. 282.)
• Brain damage can happen either before,
during, or after birth. In addition to being
A child with microcephaly (small
brain) is mentally slow and often
also develops certain physical
problems. For measurements of
head size, see p. 41.
mentally slow, these children may also have
cerebral palsy, blindness, deafness, or seizures. Common causes of mental slowness
from brain damage are discussed in Chapter 9, and include:
• German measles during early pregnancy
• meningitis (brain infection) from bacteria, tuberculosis, or malaria, most often
during early childhood
• hydrocephalus, often with spina bifida (see p. 169)
• head injuries
• other causes include brain tumor, poisoning from lead, pesticides (see p. 15),
certain medicines and food, and some forms of muscular dystrophy or atrophy
(see p. 110)
In many parts of the world, the most common causes of mental slowness are
brain damage and Down syndrome. But in some mountainous areas, it is very often
caused by lack of iodine in food and water (see p. 282).
Usually there is no treatment for mental slowness. Therefore, we often do
not need to know the exact cause. Instead, we need to help the child develop
the best he can. However, in some cases, certain medicines, changes in diet, or
prevention of further poisoning can make a big difference. If a child has any signs
of hypothyroidism or seems to be gradually losing mental ability, try to get expert
medical advice.
Prevention of mental slowness is discussed with its different causes. See especially
cerebral palsy (p. 107), Down syndrome (p. 281), and hypothyroidism (p. 282).
MENTAL ILLNESS is different
Some people confuse ‘mental slowness’ with ‘mental illness’. But they are very
different. A person who is mentally ill may have normal or high intelligence, and may
be highly educated. But because of stressful experiences, or some illness affecting
the brain, his behavior becomes strange. When a mentally slow person behaves in
an abnormal way, it is usually because he has not learned the correct way to behave;
he needs to be taught. The mentally ill person needs special help—perhaps from a
spiritual healer or ‘psychiatrist’ (soul doctor). Persons with mental illness are like
persons with any other illness. Often they cannot control their strange behavior.
We should not blame or punish them, but give them love, protection, and
understanding.
Disabled village Children