Severe mental retardation is defined as intelligence quotient?

Appeared in: RUHS, Jaipur, M.Sc Nursing Entrance Exam-2021

Explanation

The correct IQ range for severe intellectual disability is 20-34.
This classification is based on standardized intelligence tests where the average IQ is 100.
Individuals in this range demonstrate limited conceptual skills, with spoken language often restricted to single words or simple phrases.
They require support for all activities of daily living and constant supervision to ensure their safety and well-being.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

Option A: An IQ score below 20 signifies profound intellectual disability, which is the most severe level.
Option C: An IQ range of 35-49 defines moderate intellectual disability.
Option D: An IQ range of 50-70 defines mild intellectual disability, which is the most common form.

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 (Mental Retardation) by IQ Score as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses must understand the different levels of intellectual disability to provide appropriate care, set realistic goals, and ensure patient safety.
For a patient with severe intellectual disability, nursing interventions focus on assisting with basic self-care (hygiene, feeding), ensuring a safe environment to prevent injury, and using simple, concrete communication.
What if? If a patient has an IQ of 45, they fall into the 'moderate' category. The nursing care plan would shift from extensive support for all daily activities to training and encouraging independence in self-care and simple tasks within a supervised setting.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question that tests your knowledge of a standard classification system.
First, identify the key terms in the question: 'Severe mental retardation' and 'intelligence quotient (IQ)'.
Recall the four main categories of intellectual disability: Mild, Moderate, Severe, and Profound.
Mentally associate each category with its corresponding IQ range.
Compare the ranges you recall with the given options to select the correct match for 'Severe'.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Classification of Intellectual Disability (Mental Retardation) by IQ Score
Stem keywords: Severe mental retardation, intelligence quotient, IQ
Lead-in keywords: defined as

Question ID

Qwm5zWDFoJdnoECuSMMoEn

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) p. 11763-11765

E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 2 — Subpart A (pp 1-232 of 464) p. 82-84

E6 Kaplan Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry-2022 (pp 1-3768 of 3768) p. 310-312

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