title: The aetiology of intellectual disability in Western Australia: a community-based study.
abstract: A register of intellectual disability is being established to assess the level and aetiology of intellectual disability in all children born and/or living in Western Australia. 1602 children aged between six and 16 years were identified who had IQs less than 70. 40 per cent had a definite genetic basis, 20 per cent an environmental cause and 40 per cent were of unknown aetiology. The insult was prenatal in 61 per cent, 10 per cent had a possible perinatal cause, 8 per cent were postnatal and for 21 per cent the timing could not be assessed. Approximately 20 per cent had concomitant cerebral palsy and 13 per cent were epileptic. A disparity was found between rural and urban areas, the prevalence being 9.9 and 6.5 per 1000 live births.
authors.affiliation: Authority for Intellectually Handicapped Persons, West Perth, WA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wellesley
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hockey
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Stanley
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics; D002648:Child; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D025063:Chromosome Disorders; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D014904:Western Australia / Q000453:epidemiology