Disability & Mental Retardation
Mental retardation, or intellectual disability, is a condition affecting at least 1.5 million individuals in the United States. An individual with mental retardation usually has an IQ below 70 and usually lacks appropriate daily living skills.
Mental retardation is more common in boys than it is in girls and can be seen more in African Americans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Some individuals are born with mental retardation, but the causes are not known. However, other children with mental retardation have known causes such as Down Syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome or fragile X syndrome. Mental retardation can also be caused by an injury, disease or a brain abnormality, according to the CDC.
The CDC estimates that the average lifetime cost for people with mental retardation is over a million dollars. This includes direct and indirect medical costs. Because an individual with mental retardation lacks living and functional skills, they can receive Social Security income if eligible. However, the individual must have mental retardation before the age of 22. An individual must have medical, IQ or school records that show that they have had mental retardation since they were younger than 22. These individuals must also show that they are dependent on others for personal needs and cannot follow directions; have an IQ of 59 or less; have an IQ of 60 through 70 as well as a physical or other mental impairment that affects their ability to work. An individual can also have a IQ of 60 through 70 that results in two of the following: restriction of daily living activities; social functioning activity restriction; issues with concentration, persistence or pace; or having extended episodes of decompensation.