The problem of the mentally defective child.

Continued effort is necessary not only to prevent mental deficiency but to find methods of treating it. Meanwhile, physicians must have a keener appreciation of the feelings of the parents about their retarded children and must interpret the implications of the problems in a way the parents can understand. Further community effort is necessary to provide institutional and foster home care for those who need it. Educational and training programs should be extended and developed for all those who can benefit from such programs. The problem of mental deficiency is not that of the parents alone, nor of physicians, nor of the psychologists, nor of the social workers, nor of the educators. It is a problem which requires the cooperation of all these groups for solution.