What is the difference between mental retardation and low functioning autism?

Question

What is the difference between mental retardation and low functioning autism?

Answer 1

most people with mental retardation can speak and colmmunicate with the world. People with low functioning autism are usually non verbal. IQ is a measure of intelligence. Low functioning autism doesnt have an IQ requirement.

Answer 2

My brother has low functioning autism and he tests retarded on IQ tests because he is basically untestable. His language skills keep him from being able to be tested but he is able to learn. He surprises us all the time with things like fixing my mom coffee with 2 spoonfuls of sugar (we didn't even know he was aware she drank cofee), learning about what part of the body does what (heart pumps blood etc)

I think in some cases mentally retarded people have a threshold that they cannot get past. WIth autism, you have to break down the barrier of communication and processing/sensory issues and once you get past those, you can find a person that can function indendentaly or as much as possible. A mentally retarded people can learn, true, but at a certain point they are not able to get it. It will be beyond them. A person with autism has a better shot at a fully functioning life they have early intervention.

This is just my experience with my little brother and his school. I am not thtat familiar with MR thought to be honest. I just know what the teachers tell us.

Answer 3

Those with low functioning autism usually have mental retardation, but not necessarily.

Mental retardation means that the individual's development has been delayed/halted.  Most will never progress past the middle-elementary years level of thinking...some not much past newborn level of developlent.

Low functioning autism means that the individual is paralyzed in terms of communicationg and interacting with the world.  They react in unusual ways (over reacting or underreacting) and are usually taught be means of cause and effect rather than trying to rationalize with them.  People with autism at this level often deemed to have mental retardation because their ability levels do not increase as others might.  Whether their disabilities are more autism or mental retardation are related are argueable.

Answer 4

Not sure there is one, because I have a son who has Down syndrome and I know he has Autism. But I've had many professionals tell me that he doesn't have Autism, he has severe mental retardation (I.Q. of 47), and because of that it seems as though he has low functioning Autism.

I know that didn't help, and may have confused you more - Sorry!

Answer 5

First Autism is a SPECTRUM - folks can have a wide range of functionality within that spectrum.  It is however a Neurobiological disfunction so is many times related to other 'catagories' that are also neurobiological. (Attention Deficit, EBD, Rhetts, Tourettes, etc etc etc).  Different issues can present as the primary concern at different times - students who are ADHD can 'look' Autistic and students who are autistic can look ADHD.   There is also sometimes a cognitive deficit in Autism.  If the cognitive deficit is low enough - some might catagorize as MR.

The fine points get to be what strategies work best to allow the person to function to the best of their ability.  Should those services be delivered under the Autism heading or DCD heading.  Each student is different and each school district has their own heirarchy on how they organize their special education services to meet the needs of their children.  

I student can be MR and still be social and communicate with peers their deficits are more of content and knowing information. ASD students can be so focused on a limited range of interests and be unable to communicate and be social.  They can't use what they know to get what they want.  If the ASD is accompanied by a cognitive deficit too - fixing the communication piece does not fix the intelect piece.

Answer 6

There are many causes of mental retardation, which is defined as a significantly below-average intellectual ability (IQ score), along with limitations in the ability to function in daily life (communication, self-care, socialization, etc.)  

Autism is a specific diagnosis, and it is considered a spectrum disorder - some people with autism have genius level IQs but have significant problems with communication and social skills, while other people with autism are very low-functioning and unable to care for their own personal needs.  

A person with autism at this low level of functioning would likely be considered mentally retarded, with autism as a specific diagnosis.

There are many other causes of mental retardation, including Down syndrome and other genetic disorders, fetal alcohol syndrome, brain injuries, etc.  These conditions are different than autism.  But a person with low-functioning autism would probably have similar needs to people who are mentally retarded due to these or other reasons.

Answer 7

Here is the definition of autism:

A psychiatric disorder of childhood characterized by marked deficits in communication and social interaction, preoccupation with fantasy, language impairment, and abnormal behavior, such as repetitive acts and excessive attachment to certain objects. It is usually associated with intellectual impairment.

Here is the definition of mental retardation:

Below average level of intellectual functioning, usually defined by an IQ of below 70 to 75, combined with limitations in the skills necessary for daily living. Daily living skills include such things as communication, the ability to care for oneself, and the ability to work.

Though both can be very mentally impaired, the fascination with objects or repetitive behaviors seems to be the difference.

Actually there is a category for high functioning autistic kids, but usually the term low functioning is replaced by moderate to severe autism.

I work with a child with severe autism. He cannot communicate with the world except to drag you to what he wants. However, even though he can't communicate or learn very well, he is crafty at figuring things out. For instance, one time he was watching a DVD and I started to sing to the song that was on. He immediately grabbed the remote and turned up the sound.

Another difference between severely autistic people and mentally retarded people are the eyes. Mentally retarded people often have dull eyes and a disinterest in the world. They can sit and do nothing and be just fine. Severely autistic people will still desire stimulation and can be harder to manage because of their relentless needs.

When we get down to severely mentally retarded people, we do sometimes see hand flapping, self-injurious behavior and some repetitive behaviors. Many times these behaviors are managed in the same way you would manage the behaviors of people with severe autism. Remember that most self-injurious behavior is an attempt to communicate.

Most severely autistic kids show some retardation because they are trapped in a world that they cannot access. Imagine if you were dropped in the middle of China and could not learn the language or the culture. That is what it is like to be autistic. People with mental retardation may not even recognize that they are in a different culture.