The psychomotor development of mentally retarded children has seldom been studied in Taiwan. To find out the associated variables of later mental outcome of non-specific mentally retarded children, 102 neurologically normal, non-Down's psychomotor retarded children, had been recruited and followed from December 1986, till the age of 2-8 years old. The duration of follow-up is 9 to 48 months (mean 30 months). Among them, a total of 47 children, with the final diagnosis of non-specific mental retardation, were analyzed in the results section. Their final intellectual functions, represented by mental developmental index (MDI) or developmental quotient (DQ) of mental scale of Bayley Infant Developmental Scale, were mostly among moderate to severe retardation. Sixty-four percent of them was severe (DQ<35), 32% moderate (DQ>35 and MDI<50), and 4% mild (MDI 50-70). The variables of initial evaluation, which were able to predict the final intellectual functions, included fine motor DQ of Early Intervention Developmental Profile, existance of stereotyped movements, and DQ of General Development of Chinese Children Developmental Profile. Therefore, DQs of the initial evaluation of mentally retarded children could be used for predicting later mental functions, guiding treatment of these children and counselling their parents. However, clinicians should also look for the adaptive skills of the children to prevent early mislabelling.
The psychomotor development of mentally retarded children has seldom been studied in Taiwan. To find out the associated variables of later mental outcome of non-specific mentally retarded children, 102 neurologically normal, non-Down's psychomotor retarded children, had been recruited and followed from December 1986, till the age of 2-8 years old. The duration of follow-up is 9 to 48 months (mean 30 months). Among them, a total of 47 children, with the final diagnosis of non-specific mental retardation, were analyzed in the results section. Their final intellectual functions, represented by mental developmental index (MDI) or developmental quotient (DQ) of mental scale of Bayley Infant Developmental Scale, were mostly among moderate to severe retardation. Sixty-four percent of them was severe (DQ<35), 32% moderate (DQ>35 and MDI<50), and 4% mild (MDI 50-70). The variables of initial evaluation, which were able to predict the final intellectual functions, included fine motor DQ of Early Intervention Developmental Profile, existance of stereotyped movements, and DQ of General Development of Chinese Children Developmental Profile. Therefore, DQs of the initial evaluation of mentally retarded children could be used for predicting later mental functions, guiding treatment of these children and counselling their parents. However, clinicians should also look for the adaptive skills of the children to prevent early mislabelling.