Definition
Intellectual disability is one of the largest categories in the special education population. It is also referred as mental retardation or mental handicap. mental handicap is defined by the American Psychiatric Association in the Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) as a disorder with (1) significantly sub-average intellectual functioning (an IQ score of approximately 70 or below) (2) concurrent deficits or impairments in present adaptive functioning in at least two of the following skill areas : communication, self-care, home living, social / interpersonal skills, use of community resources, self-direction, functional academic skills, work leisure, health and safety. (3) onset before the age of 18. There are four levels, reflecting different degrees of severity : mild (IQ = 55-70), moderate (IQ = 40-55), severe (IQ = 25-40) and profound (IQ below 25). Approximately 90% of children with mental retardation are functioning at the mild levels and......

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Title: Mentally Handicaped
Approximate Word Count: 2161
Approximate Pages: 9 (250 words per double-spaced page)

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