intellectual disability

noun

: mild to severe impairment in intellectual ability equivalent to an IQ of 70 to 75 or below that is accompanied by significant limitations in social, practical, and conceptual skills (as in interpersonal communication, reasoning, or self-care) necessary for independent daily functioning and that has an onset before age 18

Note: The term intellectual disability is now preferred over mental retardation in medical, educational, and regulatory contexts, as well as in general use. The term mental retardation is increasingly considered offensive, though it was the dominant term into the second decade of the current century.

Examples of intellectual disability in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

And these imbalances preceded diagnosis of autism, ADHD or intellectual disability by 13 to 14 years on average, refuting the assumption that gut microbe imbalances arise from diet. —Angelica P. Ahrens, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2024

Complications from the disease can cause lifelong harm, including hearing loss, deafness and intellectual disabilities, according to the CDC. —Isabel Funk, USA TODAY, 4 Sep. 2024

Many survivors can experience ongoing neurologic problems, including convulsions, paralysis and intellectual disability. —Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 3 Sep. 2024

In Dunedin, Florida, Paul — who is 57 and has an intellectual disability, a pacemaker and a seizure disorder — says his Medicaid coverage was dropped in March. —Jason Kane, NBC News, 3 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1809, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

intellectual disability

noun

: mild to severe impairment in intellectual ability accompanied by significant limitations in skills (as in communication, reasoning, or self-care) necessary for independent daily functioning

Medical Definition

intellectual disability

noun

: mild to severe impairment in intellectual ability equivalent to an IQ of 70 to 75 or below that is accompanied by significant limitations in social, practical, and conceptual skills (as in interpersonal communication, reasoning, or self-care) necessary for independent daily functioning and that has an onset before age 18

Note: The term intellectual disability is now preferred over mental retardation in medical, educational, and regulatory contexts, as well as in general use. The term mental retardation is increasingly considered offensive, though it was the dominant term into the second decade of the current century.

… Rosa's Law, which changed references in federal law from "mental retardation" to "intellectual disability" and references to a mentally retarded individual to an individual with an intellectual disability.

—Victor R. Martinez