A child with an IQ score of 15 would be categorised under:

Appeared in: DSSSB October 2024

Explanation

Intellectual disability is classified into four levels of severity: Mild, Moderate, Severe, and Profound.
This classification is based on both IQ scores and an individual's adaptive functioning.
According to the DSM-IV criteria, an IQ score below 20 or 25 is classified as Profound mental retardation (intellectual disability).
A child with an IQ of 15 falls squarely within this range, which is the most severe level of intellectual disability.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

Option A: Severe mental retardation is incorrect because this category is defined by an IQ range of approximately 20-25 to 35-40. An IQ of 15 is below this range.
Option C: Moderate mental retardation is incorrect. This category corresponds to an IQ range of about 35-40 to 50-55, which is significantly higher than the child's score of 15.
Option D: Mild mental retardation is incorrect. This is the highest-functioning category of intellectual disability, with an IQ range from 50-55 up to approximately 70.

Related Visual

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Classification of intellectual disability based on IQ scores as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Classifying the level of intellectual disability is crucial for nurses to develop an appropriate and individualized plan of care, focusing on safety, communication, and activities of daily living (ADLs).
This classification helps in setting realistic goals for the child and family, and in providing appropriate educational and community resource referrals.
Understanding the level of disability guides the nurse in anticipating the patient's needs, such as total care for profound disability versus promoting independence in mild disability.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key piece of data in the question stem: the IQ score is 15.
Second, recall the standard classification system for intellectual disability (formerly mental retardation) based on IQ scores.
The categories are Mild, Moderate, Severe, and Profound, each associated with a specific IQ range.
Compare the given IQ score (15) to the established ranges for each category.
The range for Profound is typically below 20 or 25.
Select the option that corresponds to the range where the score of 15 falls.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Classification of intellectual disability based on IQ scores.
Stem keywords: child, IQ score, 15, categorised
Lead-in keywords: categorised under
Clinical cues: IQ score of 15 indicates a severe level of cognitive impairment.
Negative lead-in flag: false

Question ID

QF6e_9uv4OpTYOqIi9UXwT

Reference Book

E6 Robert Boland, Marcia L. Verduin - Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Text of Psychiatry-Wolters Kluwer Health (2024) (pp 1-16525 of 16525) pp. 11763-11765, 11767-11769

E6 Kaplan Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry-2022 (pp 1-3768 of 3768) p. 309-311

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