Definitions of Intellectual Disability

ICD-10 (The ICD-10-CM International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification)

• Mental retardation is a condition of arrested or incomplete development of the mind, which is especially characterized by impairment of skills manifested during the developmental period, which contribute to the overall level of intelligence, i.e., cognitive, language, motor, and social abilities.

AAIDD (The American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities)

• Intellectual disability is a disability characterized by significant limitations in both intellectual functioning and in adaptive behavior, which covers many everyday social and practical skills. This disability originates before the age of 18.

WHO (The World Health Organization)

• Intellectual disability means a significantly reduced ability to understand new or complex information and to learn and apply new skills (impaired intelligence). This results in a reduced ability to cope independently (impaired social functioning), and begins before adulthood, with a lasting effect on development.

PWD Act 1995 Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation)

• Mental retardation” means a condition of arrested or incomplete development of mind of a person which is specially characterized by sub normality of intelligence.

RPD 2016 (Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016)

• Intellectual disability, a condition characterised by significant limitation both in intellectual functioning (reasoning, learning, problem solving) and in adaptive behaviour which covers a range of every day, social and practical skills.

DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual)

Intellectual Disabilities as neurodevelopmental disorders that begin in childhood and are characterized by intellectual difficulties as well as difficulties in conceptual, social, and practical areas of living.