[Disabilities in 830 severely retarded children].
Patterns of disabilities in 830 severely retarded children aged 6-14 years identified through the prevalence study in Tokyo were analyzed. Severely retarded children were defined as those who neither capable to walk nor have their IQs over 35. Sixty-four percent of the total children belonged to class 1 of Ooshima's classification (bedridden and IQs less than 20) and most of the others belonged to class 2 of Ooshima's classification (those who able to sit alone and IQs less than 20). The percentages of the complications were as follows; epilepsy 84%, visual disturbance 40%, respiratory distress 30%, and feeding difficulty 46%. Sixteen percent of the total children were institutionalized. We conclude that the proportion of the most severe retardation has become larger than before and that the day care service for such children at their homes will be more important.
Suzuki
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Division of Child Neurology, National Center Hospital for Mental, Nervous, and Muscular Disorders, Tokyo.
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D004827:Epilepsy; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007326:Institutionalization; D008607:Intellectual Disability; D008297:Male; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency; D014041:Tokyo; D014786:Vision Disorders