Intellectual Disability requires assessment of cognitive capacity and adaptive functioning. Severity is determined by which factor?

Intellectual Disability requires assessment of cognitive capacity and adaptive functioning. Severity is determined by which factor?

• A. IQ score
• B. Adaptive functioning
• C. Language ability
• D. Educational achievement

Answer: (B)

Severity of Intellectual Disability is determined by adaptive functioning, which measures how well a person copes with daily life across the conceptual, social, and practical domains. This reflects real-world functioning and the level of support the person needs. While IQ assesses cognitive capacity, it does not by itself set the severity category. Two individuals with similar cognitive scores can have different levels of independence and support needs because their adaptive functioning differs. Clinicians use standardized adaptive behavior assessments (for example, Vineland or ABAS-II) to gauge this, guiding classifications from mild to profound based on how impairments impact daily tasks, communication, social interactions, and safety. Language ability and educational achievement are related to adaptive functioning but do not determine severity on their own; the critical factor is how these skills translate into everyday independence.

Severity of Intellectual Disability is determined by adaptive functioning, which measures how well a person copes with daily life across the conceptual, social, and practical domains. This reflects real-world functioning and the level of support the person needs. While IQ assesses cognitive capacity, it does not by itself set the severity category. Two individuals with similar cognitive scores can have different levels of independence and support needs because their adaptive functioning differs. Clinicians use standardized adaptive behavior assessments (for example, Vineland or ABAS-II) to gauge this, guiding classifications from mild to profound based on how impairments impact daily tasks, communication, social interactions, and safety. Language ability and educational achievement are related to adaptive functioning but do not determine severity on their own; the critical factor is how these skills translate into everyday independence.