ABUSE AND NEGLECT AS A CAUSE OF MENTAL RETARDATION - A STUDY OF 140 CHILDREN ADMITTED TO SUBNORMALITY HOSPITALS IN WILTSHIRE (ENGLAND)

• NCJ Number: 51246
• Journal: British Journal of Psychiatry Volume: 131 Dated: (1977) Pages: 458-467
• Author(s): A BUCHANAN; J E OLIVER
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 10 pages
• Corporate Author: Headley Bros Ltd
• Sale Source: Pewsey Hospital
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

PHYSICAL ABUSE IS BELIEVED TO BE THE CAUSE OF BRAIN DAMAGE AND SUBSEQUENT IMPAIRMENT OF INTELLECTUAL ABILITY IN UP TO 11 PERCENT OF 140 HANDICAPPED CHILDREN SURVEYED AT 2 SUBNORMALITY HOSPITALS IN ENGLAND.

Abstract

ALTHOUGH PREVIOUS RESEARCH HAD LINKED CHILD ABUSE TO SUBSEQUENT MENTAL RETARDATION, THE DISCUSSED SURVEY WAS THE FIRST TO ASSESS THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN IN SUBNORMALITY HOSPITALS WHOSE HANDICAP MIGHT BE RELATED TO SUCH ABUSE. THE STUDY FURTHER ENDEAVORED TO DETERMINE WHAT PART NEGLECT AND DEPRIVATION HAD PLAYED REDUCING INTELLECTUAL POTENTIAL, WITH RESULTANT ADMISSION TO HOSPITAL FACILITIES. THE HOSPITALIZED CHILDREN WERE EXAMINED, WITH EFFORTS MADE TO OBTAIN ALL OF THE CHILDRENS' MEDICAL AND FAMILY RECORDS. MEDICAL DIAGNOSES WERE MADE BY CONSULTANTS, AND WERE BASED ON THE INVESTIGATIONS OF PEDIATRICIANS. VIOLENCE-INDUCED HANDICAPS WERE ASCERTAINED THROUGH CORRELATION OF MEDICAL EVIDENCE WITH STATEMENTS OF PARENTS, OBSERVATIONS OF RELATIVES, AND THE DIAGNOSES OF PROFESSIONALS. POTENTIAL SUBJECTS WERE SCREENED TO DETERMINE HOW MANY HAD PREEXISTING ABNORMALITIES SO AS TO INCLUDE IN THE SURVEY ONLY THOSE CHILDREN WHO HAD BEEN PASSED AS NORMAL AT THE AGE OF 3 MONTHS. AT LEAST 3 PERCENT OF THE CHILDREN SUFFERED ASSAULTS WHICH HAD LEFT THEM PROFOUNDLY MENTALLY HANDICAPPED, WITH EVIDENCE OF RETINAL HEMORRHAGES AND INTRACRANIAL BLEEDING. AN ADDITIONAL 8 PERCENT OF THE CHILDREN MIGHT HAVE HAD THEIR HANDICAPS CAUSED BY A VARIETY OF ABUSES. FOR 48 PERCENT OF THE CHILDREN THERE WAS RECORDED EVIDENCE OF INADEQUATE PARENTAL CARE. VIOLENCE-INDUCED HANDICAPS ARE APPARENTLY MORE COMMON AS A CAUSE OF INTELLECTUAL IMPAIRMENT THAN PREVIOUSLY BELIEVED, AND EVIDENCE OF SUCH HANDICAPS SHOULD BE DOCUMENTED AND INVESTIGATED UPON THE INITIAL EXAMINATION OF AN INJURED CHILD. NEGLECTED CHILDREN OR THOSE WITH PRENATAL HANDICAPS MAY BE PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TO HANDICAPS INDUCED BY VIOLENCE AND/OR NEGLECT. THE PUBLIC SHOULD BECOME AWARE OF THE POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES OF ABUSE, ESPECIALLY OF SHAKING AND SUFFOCATION. TABULAR DATA AND REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (TWK)