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Classes of Cognitive Impairment (Mental Retardation, Intellectually Challenged, Low IQ)

Purpose: To classify a person's cognitive ability based on intelligence quotient (IQ) and functional ability.

Description

Cognitively impaired, intellectually challenged and mentally retarded are some of the terms applied to a person with reduced intelligence.


Factors going into the assessment of a person's intellect:

(1) intelligence quotient (IQ) testing (normal defined as 100, with standard deviations of 15 or 16 depending on the test being used)

(2) functional ability based on observation

 

It is important to exclude factors that may temporarily reduce the person's apparent intelligence, such as illness, depression, anxiety, catatonia or medications.

 

IQ

Ability

Impairment

Popular Term

70 to 85 (1 to 2 SD below mean)

normal to slightly reduced

borderline

 

50 to 69

mildly reduced

mild

moron, feeble-minded, educable

35 to 49

moderately reduced

moderate

imbecile

20 to 34

severely reduced

severe

imbecile

< 20

completely disabled

extreme or profound

idiot

 


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Specialty

Objective

ICD-10