The Importance of the “Small‐for‐dates” Baby to the Problem of Mental Retardation

A survey of the birth weights of 1,345 mentally retarded individuals showed that 14×4% had a reduced rate of fœtal growth (“small for dates”), whereas the incidence of prematurity alone was only marginally higher than that found in the normal population. One-third of the 14·4% have associated congenital anomalies, or their retardation is secondary to viral infection. The remaining two-thirds or 10% of the total surveyed may be retarded because of the effects of placental insufficiency. In the prevention of mental retardation, the importance of antenatal and postnatal recognition of the small-for-dates baby is stressed.