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Intellectual Disability

Home > Illnesses and Disabilities Home > Types of Illnesses & Disabilities > Intellectual Disability

Intellectual disability (formerly called mental retardation) is a term used when you are limited in your ability to:

• learn, think, solve problems, and make sense of the world (called intellectual functioning)
• live independently (called adaptive behavior)

Intellectual functioning, or IQ, is usually measured with an IQ test. The average score is 100. If you score below 70 or 75, you are said to have an intellectual disability.

Adaptive behavior is measured by looking at:

• daily living skills, such as getting dressed, going to the bathroom, and feeding yourself
• understanding what is said and being able to answer
• social skills with peers, family members, adults, and others

Causes of intellectual disability include:

• genetic disorders, such as Down syndrome ("genetic" means that it runs in families)
• fetal alcohol syndrome
• problems during pregnancy or childbirth
• childhood diseases like whooping cough or measles
• poor nutrition (not eating right)
• being exposed to poisons like lead or mercury

There is no cure for intellectual disability. But most people with intellectual disability can learn to do many things. It just takes them more time and effort than others.

Additional Resources

Publications

1.   Accommodations for People with Mental Retardation or Other Developmental Disabilities - This publication for employers contains basic information regarding questions that might be considered when determining accommodations for individuals with mental retardation or other developmental disabilities. This article discusses the issues that can affect these individuals, offers suggestions for employers and also includes example accommodations as well as a list of resources for further information.

   http://www.jan.wvu.edu/media/MR.html

2.   Developmental Disabilities - Developmental disabilities are a diverse group of severe chronic conditions that are due to mental and/or physical impairments. This page contains links to information from the CDC about different developmental disabilities, including autism spectrum disorders, cerebral palsy, mental retardation, and more.

   http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/dd/

3.     Mental Retardation - This publication discusses the main reasons why mental retardation occurred 30 years ago compared to today. Reasons given are: HIB, lead poisoning, PKU, and thyroid problems. The article also discusses how to further reduce the number of kids being born with developing mental retardation.

   http://www.nih.gov/about/researchresultsforthepublic/MentalRetardation.pdf

4. Fact Sheet: Aging (Copyright © AAIDD) - This fact sheet discusses age-related concerns of adults with intellectual disabilities/mental retardation and other developmental disabilities and their families.

   http://www.aamr.org/Policies/faq_aging.shtml

5. Fact Sheet: Sexuality and Intellectual Disability (Copyright © AAIDD) - This fact sheet provides answers to questions about sexuality and intellectual disability, such as do people with intellectual disabilities have sexuality and can they have children?

   http://www.aaidd.org/Policies/sexuality.shtml

6. Mental Retardation - This fact sheet tells the story of a boy with mental retardation. It provides basic background information on mental retardation, what causes it, and how it's diagnosed. Also, it gives useful tips to parents and teachers about dealing with mental retardation and how to provide a better environment for the child.

   http://www.nichcy.org/pubs/factshe/fs8txt.htm

Organizations

1.   National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, HHS
2.   The President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities , ACF, HHS
3. American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
4. American Network of Community Options and Resources
5. Arc of the United States
6. Association of University Centers on Disabilities
7. Devereux Foundation
8. March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation
9. National Birth Defects Center

= Indicates Federal Resources

Content last updated May 15, 2008.