A study is reported of the practical and emotional problems found in 201 families with mentally retarded children in Sheffield, England.
The families were selected for study solely because they had a retarded child, so that the observations might give a true measure of the incidence of the various disturbances.
The main practical problems were nursing care in 14 families (7%), constant supervision in 63 families (31%), and frequent attention at night in 31 families (15%). These problems caused the exhaustion of the mother in 19% of the families and of the father in 5%. The siblings suffered from attacks by the mentally retarded child in 12% of the families, and through helping in 5%. The parents' activities were limited: in 41% of families they were never able to go out together and in 17% they never had a holiday. The retarded child was the cause of extra expense in 59 families (29%).
The emotional problems observed were disappointment, guilt, shame and a sense of inadequacy. These reactions led to quarrelling between the parents in 6% of the families. The parents had separated in 5% of the families but usually there were other causes behind these separations. In 10% of the families the siblings showed resentment, and in 5% they were ashamed of the retarded child. The emotional factors led to social isolation in 63% of the families.
The place of home care for retarded children is discussed. It is suggested that this can be helped by careful counselling and guidance for the parents, by attention to the needs for practical help, and by reducing the still prevalent stigma against mental defect.
Book Review: The Mentally Retarded Child
