Mental Retardation In India

International Review of Research in Mental Retardation

Discussions surrounding inclusivity have grown exponentially in recent years. In today’s world where diversity, equity, and inclusion are the hot topics in all aspects of society, it is more important than ever to define what it means to be an inclusive society, as well as challenges and potential growth. Those with physical and intellectual disabilities, including vision and hearing impairment, Down syndrome, locomotor disability, and more continue to face challenges of accessibility in their daily lives, especially when facing an increasingly digitalized society. It is crucial that research is brought up to date on the latest assistive technologies, educational practices, work assistance, and online support that can be provided to those classified with a disability. The Research Anthology on Physical and Intellectual Disabilities in an Inclusive Society provides a comprehensive guide of a range of topics relating to myriad aspects, difficulties, and opportunities of becoming a more inclusive society toward those with physical or intellectual disabilities. Covering everything from disabilities in education, sports, marriages, and more, it is essential for psychologists, psychiatrists, pediatricians, psychiatric nurses, clinicians, special education teachers, social workers, hospital administrators, mental health specialists, managers, academicians, rehabilitation centers, researchers, and students who wish to learn more about what it means to be an inclusive society and best practices in order to get there.

Brain disordersâ€"neurological, psychiatric, and developmentalâ€"now affect at least 250 million people in the developing world, and this number is expected to rise as life expectancy increases. Yet public and private health systems in developing countries have paid relatively little attention to brain disorders. The negative attitudes, prejudice, and stigma that often surround many of these disorders have contributed to this neglect. Lacking proper diagnosis and treatment, millions of individual lives are lost to disability and death. Such conditions exact both personal and economic costs on families, communities, and nations. The report describes the causes and risk factors associated with brain disorders. It focuses on six representative brain disorders that are prevalent in developing countries: developmental disabilities, epilepsy, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, and stroke. The report makes detailed recommendations of ways to reduce the toll exacted by these six disorders. In broader strokes, the report also proposes six major strategies toward reducing the overall burden of brain disorders in the developing world.

"In view of the paucity of research in the area, the epidemiological study reported in the monograph by Professor Anima Sen is a welcome attempt and is commendable.... The analysis of data has been reported in minute detail. The correlational analysis and factor analysis of the data reveal interesting patters of relationships among different variables for normal and retarded children. These results serve as a springboard for generating a wealth of hypotheses for futher research." --Indian Psychological Abstracts and Reviews "This book, packed with invaluable information, facts and figures, is a comprehensive report of a survey of mentally handicapped children in the villages around New Delhi, the capital of India. . . . There is a proverbial 'Indian gold mine' in the reference section of the book which every 'prospector' in the field would feel obligated to treasure; a list of excellent references related to studies in India is hard to come by. . . . We have no hesitation in recommending this book, a classic in its own right, to academic departments of developmental psychiatry and psychology, social sciences and, in particular, to health and social service planners in developing countries. Perhaps every academic specialising in studies related to children and their development should read it to gain a glimpse of the problems encountered by developmentally disabled children in developing countries." --British Journal of Learning Disabilities Statistics indicate that the proportion of mentally handicapped persons in India is alarmingly high. Based on a path-breaking study of nearly 13,000 children living in the villages around Delhi, Medical Handicap Among Rural Indian Children reveals the ecological factors influencing children's mental development. This volume also identifies important psycho-social factors associated with mental handicap such as nutritional status, parenting, and the mothers' educational levels. The author makes important suggestions for possible intervention strategies for the prevention and amelioration of mental handicap in India and highlights specific roles that can be played out by all concerned with this problem; namely, the family, the community, voluntary agencies, and policy makers. The first study of its kind, Mental Handicap Among Rural Indian Children will be of immense value to psychologists, social workers, government officials, scholars of cultural studies, and all those involved with child development and mental retardation.