Acta Psychopathologica Open Access

Intellectual Disability

Intellectual Disability (ID), also called intellectual development disorder (IDD) or general learning disability and formerly known as mental retardation (MR) is a generalized neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by significantly impaired intellectual and adaptive functioning.

Intellectual disability has limitations in two areas:

Intellectual functioning- Also known as IQ, this refers to a person’s ability to learn, reason, make decisions, and solve problems.

Adaptive behaviors- These are skills necessary for day-to-day life, such as being able to communicate effectively, interact with others, and take care of oneself.