ANALYSIS OF EXISTING APPROACHES TO UNDERSTANDING THE MAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY
Goals and Objectives. The article analyzes various approaches to understanding mental retardation taking into account the psychological, pedagogical, clinical and social studies of recent decades. The problem of conceptualization of mental retardation is singled out to determine the educational program in the senior preschool and junior school age. The purpose of the article: taking into account both traditional clinical-psychological-pedagogical approaches and studies of recent decades, to determine the main essential characteristics of mental retardation, which are significant for determining the educational program in the senior preschool and junior school age. Methodology (materials and methods). The research methodology consists of analysis and generalization of normative and legal documents in the field of education of students with limited health opportunities, scientific research works of foreign and domestic scientists recognized by the scientific community, and the experience of psychological and pedagogical studies of senior preschool children and junior schoolchildren with different degrees of mental retardation. Research results. Based on the analysis of clinical, psycho-pedagogical and socio-cultural approaches, the main essential characteristics of mental retardation are formulated, taking into consideration the complexity of establishing genesis and the polymorphism of clinical manifestations. Conclusions in accordance with the purpose of the article. The main essential characteristics of mental retardation, significant for the psychological and pedagogical diagnosis of mental retardation and its degrees, and the definition of the educational program in the senior preschool and junior school age are defined: the “nuclear” sign of mental retardation is a persistent violation of cognitive activity; arises from the pathological influence of biological and social factors in varying degrees of severity and various stable combinations; is due to the peculiarities of higher nervous activity; is a system of defects and is characterized by a certain hierarchy; is polymorphic by etiopathogenetic sign, degree of severity and clinical manifestations; the most common form of mental retardation is oligophrenia characterized by the totality, hierarchy of underdevelopment of the psyche and intellect and lack of progress, and it is not a disease but a developmental condition; predisposes to violations of social adaptation.