Alternate Approaches to Intellectual Disability

Abstract

Substantial number of parents owing to ignorance, illiteracy and lack of proper and effective treatments used to take their children for various interventions such as magico-religious treatments, alternative medicines and unproved treatment modalities. AIMThe aim was to study the resource utilisation of the families of intellectual disability by taking a longitudinal history of various attempts to care children by the caregivers. MATERIALS AND METHODSIn an explorative study of resource utilisation of the families of intellectually disabled children, 30 families attending a special school for intellectual disability were randomly chosen. The longitudinal history of attempts at care of the child through various alternate methods, their socio-demographic details, their perception of the problem, experiences with various systems of management and the resource utilisations were studied by a semi-structured questionnaire, which was formulated after doing a pilot study on 10 caregivers. RESULTSIt was made out that most of the caregivers spent beyond their resources to somehow bring about an improvement. Moreover, they were wary of the possible adverse effects of drugs in allopathy and were disappointed by the lack of quick improvement. Advice by well-meaning relatives and trial for the sake of trying were other reasons. DISCUSSIONEarly diagnosis, proper guidance, care rather than cure, communicating the limitations of treatment and emphasis on possible rehabilitation methods, coordination among the various health care providers were identified as better remedial measures.

Intellectual Disability (Mental Retardation) - Review of Literature and Some Complementary Approaches of Management

“…[2] When the causes are unknown, prognosis is uncertain and the planning and provision of the services is difficult and the families tend to develop wrong beliefs, unrealistic expectations and may turn to other unproved alternative approaches of treatment. [2,8] Co-morbidity The study of McLaren and Bryson (1987) indicated that neurological disorders are frequently associated with MR, especially if the retardation is severe. [12] Seizure disorders in 15% -30% of patients, cerebral palsy and other motor handicaps were found in 20% -30% of patients and sensory impairments in 10% -20% of patients.…”

“…[57] The difficulties faced by the relatives in the choice of the management plan and the vacillations in their approach are best revealed in a study done by the authors. [8] The observations of the study are as follows: 1. Considerable number of the parents have consulted other systems of management; 2.…”