It is not contagious because it is not a disease. Testing methods have various cutoff points for the diagnosis of mental retardation. These can range from an IQ of 70 to an IQ of 80. However, IQ is not the only criteria for diagnosis. A person with mental retardation also exhibits impaired adaptive behavior.
Studies indicate there are more males with mental retardation than females.
People with disabilities can be hardworking, reliable employees. Supported employment strategies allow people with disabilities access to new job opportunities for competitive employment. There is a clearly established relationship between poverty and mental retardation. Malnutrition, lead poisoning and lack of prenatal care are a few factors that may contribute to the disproportionate occurrence of mental retardation among America s poor. More than 200 causes of mental retardation have been identified.