Pediatric Nursing Q 193

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Lily , age 5, with an intelligence quotient of 65 is admitted to the hospital for evaluation. When planning care, the nurse should keep in mind that this child is:

  

     A. Within the lower range of normal intelligence

     B. Mildly retarded but educable

     C. Moderately retarded but trainable

     D. Completely dependent on others for care

    

    

Correct Answer: B. Mildly retarded but educable.

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According to the American Association on Mental Deficiency, a person with an intelligence quotient (IQ) between 50 and 70 is classified as mildly mentally retarded but educable. However, it is no longer a standard to classify intellectual disability by IQ score alone. For instance, if an individual has an IQ below 70, but has a good adaptive function, the subject does not have an intellectual disability.

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Option A: On the other side, individuals with a normal, or even higher than normal IQ, may manifest severe deficits in adaptive functions and are, therefore, classified as having an intellectual disability. In turn, the current diagnosis of intellectual disability also considers a person’s adaptive function.

Option C: One with an IQ between 35 and 50 is classified as moderately retarded but trainable. The DSM-5 also has “Unspecified Intellectual Disability” (Intellectual Developmental Disorder) to describe individuals over the age of 5 suspected of having an intellectual disability who has difficulty completing required tests, usually because of limitations resulting from blindness, deafness, or concurrent mental illness.

Option D: One with an IQ below 36 is severely and profoundly impaired, requiring custodial care. When initiating therapy, a healthcare provider must be aware of the various avenues of treating intellectual disability to orchestrate a multidisciplinary and individually tailored treatment appropriately.

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