CARDIO-RESPIRATORY FUNCTION IN CHILDREN WITH MENTAL DISABILITY AND CHILDREN WITH DOWN SYNDROME

Abstract

The aim of the study is to identify the possible malfunctions of two physiological parameters (heart rate and respiratory rate) due to the mental disability. As a hypothesis, we consider that there are significant differences between children with mental disability and children without mental disability regarding heart rate and respiratory rate at rest. We included in our research 35 subjects from Gura Humorului city (Romania), aged between 12 and 16, with various degrees of mental disability, from special educational level. The measurements were taken at the same moment of the day (in the morning, between 10 and 12), the subjects sitting on a chair. There were no significant differences (p>0.05) regarding the heart rate among the four groups. Also, the respiratory rate frequency increases at the same time with the degree of mental disability. There is the possibility for children with mental disability to compensate low heart rates with higher respiratory rates.