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. 2008 Jan;13(1):57-60.

The prevalence of mental retardation by gender, age of diagnosis and location in Zonguldak province, Turkey

Ferruh N Ayoglu  1 , Feryal Cabuk, Sibel Kiran, Ayse Ocakci, Zuhtu Sahin, Ahmet Dursun
Affiliations
  • PMID: 21063288

The prevalence of mental retardation by gender, age of diagnosis and location in Zonguldak province, Turkey

Ferruh N Ayoglu et al. Neurosciences (Riyadh). 2008 Jan.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of mental retardation by gender, age of diagnosis, and location in Zonguldak, Turkey.

Methods: The data of 1909 mentally retarded children recorded between 1995 and 2003 was obtained from the Learning Disability Guidance and Research Centre. Age, gender, IQ scores, the age of diagnosis, and living areas of cases were evaluated.

Results: The distribution of mental retardation was as follows; 304 cases (15.9%) were profound and severe, 1060 (55.6%) were moderate and mild, and 545 (28.5%) were borderline. The prevalence of mental retardation was 12.1% (male: 15.1%, female: 9.1%). Of the cases, 1327 (69.5%) lived in urban areas.

Conclusion: Most individuals with severe mental retardation become enrolled in the service system during early childhood, but children with mild mental retardation, especially those with no other neurological impairments, may never enter the system or may not do so until puberty. Most of our cases were diagnosed between the ages of 6 and 10. This proves the importance of school guidance of learning disability and their collaboration with The Learning Disability Guidance and Research Center.

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