Mental Retardation

Mental retardation (also referred to as intellectual disability) is a disability characterized by significant limitations both in intellectual functioning and in adaptive behavior, which affects everyday social and daily living skills. This disability originates before the age of 18. The American Association of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) has formally defined mental retardation as:

1. Significantly sub average intellectual functioning, existing concurrently with related limitations in applicable adaptive skills in two or more of the following areas:
   
• Communication
• Self Care
• Home Living
• Social Skills
• Community Use
• Self direction
• Health and Safety
• Functional Academics
• Leisure
• Work


2. Mental retardation manifests before age 18.
   
   In general, an IQ below 70 falls within the range of mental retardation.  With appropriate supports over a sustained period, the life functioning of the person with mental retardation will generally improve.
   
   The term "appropriate supports" means an array of services, supportive individuals, and receptive settings that match an individual's needs. It is likely that supports will be needed over an extended period of time, and for many persons, supports will be lifelong. For some, however, certain supports may be intermittent or short term. Most people with mental retardation will improve their functioning with effective supports, allowing them to live more productive, independent, and integrated lives. A lack of improvement in functioning can serve as a basis for re-evaluating the supports. In rare circumstances, supports can serve to merely maintain a level of functioning or slow a regression of level of functioning.

(For more information on the characteristics of mental retardation, see the AAIDD's manual: Intellectual Disability: Definition, Classification, and Systems of Supports (Eleventh edition, 2010). Also see the AAIDD website at: www.aamr.org/ )

 

 

 

 

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