Motormental retardation

Alternative names:

delayed motor and mental development ; retardation - motormental; motor-mental retardation; psychomotor retardation

Definition:

Delayed or decreased development of both mental and motor skills in the newborn or child.

Considerations:

Motormental retardation in children is generally related to significant central nervous system damage or abnormality. It refers both to lack of mental development and motor development. There can be various degrees of mental retardation, and failure to meet various normal developmental milestones.

Infants can be born with conditions that cause mental retardation and delayed or absent motor development. Motormental retardation may also develop after birth with deterioration of both mental and motor function.

Common causes:

BEFORE BIRTH

• asphyxia (insufficient oxygen before or during birth)
• cerebral hemorrhage
• congenital rubella syndrome
• congenital rubella syndrome
• chromosomal abnormalities (excessive numbers or reduced numbers) such as trisomy 13, trisomy 18, trisomy 21 (Down syndrome)
• abnormalities of the chromosome (with normal number of chromosomes) such as Fragile X syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, Angelman syndrome
• Fetal alcohol syndrome

AFTER BIRTH

• infection: meningitis and/or encephalitis. (Organisms can include virus, bacteria or parasites. Some infectious agents include: HIV infection, Herpes Simplex virus, toxoplasmosis, cytomegalovirus, listeria, H. influenza)
• traumatic: head injury, shaken-baby syndrome, asphyxia (such as near drowning)
• non-genetic metabolic disorders: kernicterus,hypoglycemia, Reye syndrome, congenital hypothyroidism (untreated),
• intraventricular hemorrhage (as seen in very premature infants)
• other heritable disorders: Tay-Sachs disease,Aicardi syndrome, Niemann-Pick
• environmental or toxic: lead poisoning, methyl mercury (Minamata disease)

Note: There may be other causes of motormental retardation. This list is not all inclusive, and the causes are not presented in order of likelihood. The causes of this symptom can include unlikely diseases and medications. Furthermore, the causes may vary based on age and gender of the affected person, as well as on the specific characteristics of the symptom such as quality, time course, and associated complaints. Use the Symptom Analysis option to explore the possible explanations for motormental retardation, occurring alone or in combination with other problems.

Update Date: 02/09/00
Updated by: J. Gordon Lambert, MD, Associate Medical Director, Utah Health Informatics and adam.com editorial