My article pertains to the components of mental retardation in human beings. Mental retardation affects many more people than one would think. In fact, about ten percent of families in the United States are directly affected by it. Diagnosing mental retardation can be a difficult process. There are three key steps taken before one can be classified as such. The first step is to have a qualified person administer a standardized intelligence and aptitude test to the patient (IQ test). The second step is to try to list the patients strengths and weaknesses across these four areas: " Intellectual and adaptive behavior skills, Psychological/emotional considerations, Physical/health/etiological considerations and Environmental considerations" (Arc PG 1). The final step is to determine the intensity of the problem in those four areas, and what degree of assistance the patient will need. The assistance categories are broken down into four groups; intermittent, limited, extensive, and pervasive. Pervasive being the highest form of mental retardation and intermittent being the most mild. Scientists and doctors have discovered many possible reasons to explain the causes of mental retardation. The first reason is pointed at genetics. The next reasons are problems that may occur during the pregnancy, either before or after birth. "The three major known causes of mental retardation are Down syndrome, fetal alcohol syndrome and fragile X" (Arc PG2). It is a good thing that we figured out all of this valuable information because mental retardation, in most cases, can be avoided. For example we know that significant amounts of lead damages a newborns brain so we keep them away from those high-risk areas, thus lowering the chance of mental retardation. Furthermore, there are new vaccines and gene therapy treatments that can lower the risk even more. I learned many new and interesting facts from this article about t...