Level of Mental Retardation

Level of Mental Retardation
Mental retardation is defined as “significant sub-average general intellectual functioning resulting in or associated with concurring impairments in adaptive behavior and manifested during the developmental period”. Translated, this means that to be diagnosed as mentally retarded an individual must show, before adulthood, and IQ score below 70 and have difficulties meeting age-appropriate expectations in everyday life.

Four level of mental retardation are recognized, each of them representing a portion of the IQ range below 70: mild, moderate, severe, and profound.

A mildly retarded adult (IQ 55 to 69) is likely to have a mental age comparable to that of an 8 to 12 year old child. Mildly retarded persons can learn both academic and practical skill in school with special instruction and they can potentially work and live independently or with occasional help as adult.

Moderately retarded individuals (IQ 40 – 54) can also learn basic academic skills and many life skills, but they are more likely than mildly retarded people need supervision and support in order to hold jobs and live in the community.

Severely retarded persons (IQ 25 - 39) typically can learn many basic self-help skills and communications skills, but they typically master few academic skills and need a good deal of continuing training and support as adult.

Finally, profoundly retarded persons, with IQs below 25 and mental ages below years, show major delays in all areas of developmental and require basic care, often in an institutional setting, though they are important differences among mentally retarded individuals.
Level of Mental Retardation