title: Abuse and neglect as a cause of mental retardation: a study of 140 children admitted to subnormality hospitals in Wiltshire.
abstract: The survey of 140 children under 16 in two subnormality hospitals showed that 3 per cent of the children had definitely been rendered mentally handicapped as a consequence of violent abuse, and that a possible maximum total of 11 per cent might have been thus rendered mentally handicapped. In 24 per cent of the children, neglect was considered to be a contributory factor in reducing intellectual potential. Impairment of intellect from abuse and neglect, especially in those with 'vulnerable' brains due to pre-existing abnormality, may be much commoner in children than is generally realized.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001497:Battered Child Syndrome; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004739:England; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000209:etiology*; D007360:Intelligence; D012306:Risk