In this article, we will discuss the Identification of Intellectual Disability or Mental Retardation.
What is Intellectual Disability or Mental Retardation?
The concept of Mental Retardation “is based purely on IQ test scores; no judgments are made about origins or causes, about emotional, motivational, familial or social factors, or about prognosis” (Reber & Reber). A child who scores below 70 on a standardised IQ test and has significant difficulties adapting to his environment is considered mentally retarded.
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Identification Process of Intellectual Disability or Mental Retardation children:
Two types of assessments are required for children to be identified as retarded – intelligence and adaptive behaviours. A student may not be categorized based on one test. Comprehensive testing includes observation of behaviour by the teacher, curriculum-based assessments, interviewing and standardised tests.
Some of the widely used intelligence tests are – the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale (Thorndike, Hagen & Sattler), The Revised Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children –III, The Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (K-ABC).
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Checklists are used to assess adaptive behaviour. Some frequently used checklists are:
The Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scale7: questions in this checklist are related to age-appropriate self-help, communication, locomotion, occupation, socialisation and self-direction skills.
The Adaptive Behaviour Scale-Public School (ABS-PS) Version: This scale is an outgrowth of a project begun in 1965 by Parsons State Hospital and the American Association on Mental Retardation to develop a measure of adaptive behaviour to be used for patients with disabilities. It was revised in 1974 by Lambert to use it for public school children (Lambert, Mihira & Leland, 1993). Using the class teacher as an informant, this test measures independent functioning, physical development, language development, vocational activity, economic activity, self-direction, responsibility and socialisation in Part I. Part II measures violent and destructive behaviour, antisocial behaviour, disobedient behaviour, withdrawal, stereotyped behaviour, odd mannerisms, inappropriate interpersonal manners, unacceptable tendencies, unacceptable vocal habits, hyperactive tendencies, psychological disturbances and medication use.
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