ZPR

Children's statistics are particularly disappointing - in the last decade, the number of children with mental retardation has increased significantly (up to 16% of preschool-age boys).

Retardation of mental development - what is it?

Psyche of any person includes a huge number of functions. It is responsible for thinking, memory, attention, feelings and emotions. Physiologically, a child's mental development goes through several stages and ends by the age of 18-22, when he is able to make conscious decisions and bear responsibility for them. Lagging behind the accepted functional indicators for a specific age is defined as mental retardation. This is a borderline state between normal and severe pathology. The main problems faced by children with SEN are primarily related to social adaptation and learning. Delay in mental development, as opposed to mental retardation, is a reversible disorder in which children are able to productively use the help of an adult.

Reasons for the occurrence of ZPR

The diagnosis of ZPR in children is not organic, i.e. to Not related to congenital pathologies. This is an acquired disorder. The reasons for the occurrence of ZPR can be conventionally divided into two large groups:

1. physiological - chronic diseases of the mother and intoxication during pregnancy, frequent somatic diseases of the child (especially in the first year of life), damage to the central nervous system, etc. d .;
2. social and pedagogical - the result of unfavorable living conditions and lack of education (social deprivation).

Types of ZPR

Depending on the origin, four types of ZPR are differentiated:

1. constitutional – a consequence of delayed maturation of the frontal part of the brain; a distinctive feature of such children is small height and weight; with a cheerful and mild character, they are restless, easily influenced, with poorly developed thinking and memory;
2. somatogenic – the result of long-term somatic diseases experienced in early childhood;
3. psychogenic - the result of pedagogical neglect and carelessness;
4. cerebral-organic – the most common type caused by local brain dysfunction with the least favorable prognosis (compared to the other three forms).

Somatogenic retardation of mental development

Retardation of mental development of somatogenic etiology is characterized by great physical and mental exhaustion (asthenia). Such children are insecure, lack initiative, and are extremely attached to their parents. Interest in learning is completely absent, but the reaction to bad grades and failures is extremely painful. Their state of health requires studying in sanatorium-type schools. As a rule, after the complete elimination of the somatic causes, further correction of ZPR is also successful.

Psychogenic retardation of mental development

Prolonged exposure to adverse social conditions (any form of family dysfunction) is the basis for psychogenic retardation of mental development. Features of children with this type of mental retardation are persistent deviations in the neuropsychological development of the personality. The emotional and volitional sphere of children is especially affected. They, as a rule, live in their own world, have no conscious idea of ​​moral norms, impulsive, with a small vocabulary and scanty ideas about the world around them.

Symptoms of CPR in a child

There are certain features of children with SEN of preschool age. The main, most striking signs of ZPR:

• immaturity of the emotional and volitional sphere;
• primitiveness of game activity;
• delay in language development;
• specificity of memory - visual material is remembered better than verbal;
• excessive motor activity – attention deficit syndrome is sometimes present;
• problems with household skills - independent dressing, eating, toileting;
• difficulties with study skills.
• Features of the emotional and volitional sphere of children with developmental disabilities

The main goal of a child with SEN is to enjoy what he is doing. If he gets bored of the activity, he immediately quits it, without making any effort on himself. Peculiarities of the emotional and volitional sphere of children with ADHD can be expressed in tantrums, aggressive behavior, because the child does not understand why he needs to ask permission, share toys with someone, etc. p. Understanding one's failure in the children's team only worsens the situation.

Peculiarities of play activities of children with developmental disabilities

For young children, the most accessible type of activity is play. This is their real life among peers. Peculiarities of play activities of children with SEN are manifested in the insufficient expression of cognitive interest. For example, a five-year-old child can just drive a car aimlessly, while his peers build houses, garages, and spaceships from the constructor. Another extreme situation is destruction. Children tear, scatter, break toys. It can be just a senseless motor activity instead of playing with other children.

Treatment of ZPR in children

The initial stage of treatment of ZPR in children - one cannot deny the obvious. At the same time, it should be remembered that ZPR is not a lifelong diagnosis: the earlier the correction is started, the greater the chances of a successful outcome. Of course, in each case, the therapy scheme is selected individually, but a comprehensive approach is optimal:

• remedial classes with a psychologist and teacher;
• medical therapy;
• creating the necessary conditions in the family.

Drug treatment of ZPR in children

Therapeutic treatment for children with mental retardation is prescribed according to the characteristics of the condition, etiology, and the presence of accompanying pathologies. In addition, physiotherapeutic procedures may be prescribed based on the doctor's recommendation.