Diagnostic Tests for Mental retardation

Diagnostic Test list for Mental retardation:

The list of diagnostic tests mentioned in various sources as used in the diagnosis of Mental retardation includes:

• General appearance
  • Looking for any characteristic dysmorphic ( abnormality of shape) features of face and body - e.g. Down syndrome, Cornelia de Lange syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, Soto's syndrome.
  • Observe the child's behavior and interaction with yourself. If child is alert, interested in new objects, keen to explore and relates in a friendly manner, a developmental problem is more likely because of an isolated condition rather than global retardation
• Physical examination
  • Growth - including head circumference.
  • Observe infant health clinic booklet - to check growth patterns of weight, height and head circumference.
  • Examine for any skin pigment abnormalities - e.g. tuberous sclerosis is characterized by patches of hypopigmentation; decreased skin pigment may also suggest phenylketonuria; neurofibromatosis is characterized by large numbers of café au lait spots (localized area of hyperpigmentation); Sturge-Weber syndrome is characterized by a unilateral port wine colored lesion over one side of the face.
  • Inspect for abnormal secondary sexual characteristics. These findings would suggest Klinefelter's syndrome, Turner's syndrome and Laurence-Moon_bardet-Biedl syndrome
  • Examine for any abnormalities of the skull. Findings of any deformities or enlargement of the skull may suggest rickets, microcephaly, hypertelorism (abnormal distance between two paired organs), oxycephaly and hydrocephalus
  • Abdominal examination feeling for an enlarged liver or spleen which may suggest galactosemia, Hurler's disease, Gaucher's disease
  • Assessment of vision and hearing
  • Neurological examination to look for focal neurological signs and papilledema. Abnormalities may suggest Tay-Sachs disease, congenital syphilis, Arnold-Chiari malformation and cerebral diplegia
• Blood tests
  • Full blood count and ESR
  • Biochemistry
  • Thyroid function tests
  • Cytogenetics for karyotyping - e.g. looking for genetic syndromes e.g. Down's syndrome, Fragile-X syndrome, Klinefelter's syndrome.
  • Serology for congenital infections in a child - (e.g. rubella, toxoplasmosis).
  • Serum Creatinine phosphokinase in child not walking be 18 months if suspect Duchenne muscular dystrophy
  • Serum galactose, if suspect galactosemia
  • Syphilis serology, if suspected
• Urine tests
  • Urine metabolic screening in children if suspect metabolic and storage diseases (screen for carbohydrates, amino acids and organic acids)
• Radiological investigations
  • CT scan or MRI brain can detect many different causes of mental retardation
  • Skull X-Ray - if there are deformities of the skull.
• IQ test
• Denver developmental screening test in children - compares all aspects of a child's development with a population of normal children at the same age.
• Electroencephalogram (EEG) - to detect associated epilepsy.

Home Diagnostic Testing

These home medical tests may be relevant to Mental retardation causes:

• Child Behavior: Home Testing
  • ADHD -- Home Test Kits
  • Concentration -- Home Testing
• Mental Health (Adults): Home Testing
  • Adult ADHD -- Home Testing
  • Concentration -- Home Tests
• Mental Health: Home Testing:
  • Home Emotional Stress Tests
  • ADHD -- Home Testing
  • Concentration -- Home Test Kits
• Brain & Neurological Disorders: Related Home Testing:
  • ADHD -- Home Tests
  • Drug Screening Kits

 » Next page: Glossary

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