[Mental retardation and environment: contribution of growth curves to etiological diagnosis].
Although deprived environment is known for more than 50 years to be one of the etiology of mental retardation in infancy, this remains unrecognized by many paediatricians and family practitioners. Yet if appropriate therapeutic measures are instituted early enough, future development of the child is good. A study of the growth curves in relation with the environmental changes, can help to diagnose environmental mental retardation. As an illustration, we present the cases of 5 children first addressed for developmental delay, and secondly removed from their usual environment for psychosocial reasons. Mean duration of follow-up was 10 years, including at least 5 years after the removal. All 5 children had non-organic failure to thrive which was displayed only on the retrospective study of their records. Four recovered from their developmental retardation.
Roubergue
A
A
Service de pédiatrie, neurologie et pathologie du développement, hôpital Armand-Trousseau, 26, avenue du docteur A. Netter, 75012 Paris, France.
Rapoport
D
D
Maurel-Ollivier
A
A
Parizot
S
S
Richardet
J M
JM
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D004777:Environment; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D011610:Psychosocial Deprivation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors