An epidemiological census investigation on severe mental retardation among children under 15 years were carried out on July 1, 1970, in the community of Aarhus. Case finding procedures are described in detail. One hundred and seventy-one severely retarded children were found in total population of 233,162 with 50,667 children under 15 years. The age-specific prevalence rate was 3.38 per 1,000. About 20% of the severely retarded children are not registered in the Danish National Mental Retardation Service when they reached school age. One third of the children are under residental care, but only half of these are in subnormality hospitals while the other half reside in waiting homes. Among 64% living at home, two thirds receive day-care or training. Comparisons are made especially with two other prevalence surveys, one covering the same area, and the other identical in methods.
The Children's Handicaps, Behaviour and Skills Schedule (HBS Schedule) was used in a semistructured interview with parents and professionals concerned with 148 severely retarded children in the county of Aarhus. Results as to agreement between informants are presented including an analysis of the effect of increasing time interval between the interviews. Comparisons are made with a similar study from Camberwell, England. It is concluded that the HBS Schedule constitutes a valuable supplement in assessing retarded children, and it is suitable for subgroup‐ ing such children which is important in planning as well as in research.
Bernsen, A. H., Rasmussen, K. and Nielsen J. (Institute of Psychiatric Demography and Cytogenetic Laboratory, Psychiatric Hospital, Risskov, Denmark). Trisomy 8 Syndrome. Acta Paediatr Scand, 66: 397, 1977.-A case report of trisomy 8 in a 17-year-old mentally retarded female is presented and the previously reported cases of trisomy 8 are reviewed in an attempt to establish the clinical characteristics of the trisomy 8 syndrome.
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