The aim of this book is to provide professionals with the latest and most reliable

information on intellectual disability and associated impairments. It utilizes a

developmental perspective and reviews the various types of intellectual disability,
discusses approaches to classification, diagnosis, and appropriate interventions,
and provides information on resources that may offer additional help.
The term �intellectual disability� is used throughout this book instead of
�mental retardation� to reflect current perspectives. Intellectual disability
refers
to impairments in both cognitive functioning and adaptive skills whose onset is
during the developmental period. It is a developmental, intellectual, and cognitive
disability. Although the term �mental retardation� continues to be used in
the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) and DSM-IVTR, the continued
use of this designation has been questioned because it implies a static,
unchanging condition rather than one that can change over time.