Download The thesis explores intellectual disability with reference to a clinical case. Intellectual disability is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects various adaptive functions, making independence and social interaction difficult. It is characterized by an intelligence quotient (IQ) typically less than or equal to 70, impaired adaptive and cognitive functioning, and the onset of these difficulties before age 18. Furthermore, it manifests itself with varying degrees of severity—mild, moderate, severe, and extreme—requiring differentiated support.
Intellectual disability was previously defined as "mental retardation," a term later replaced because it was deemed stigmatizing and had negative connotations. Assessment must be conducted by specialists and include psychometric testing and analysis of adaptive functioning. Interventions, including educational, rehabilitative, psychological, social, medical, family, and transitional interventions, must be personalized, with a focus on inclusion and self-determination, to ensure a better quality of life. Family support and the development of an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) are essential to meeting each individual's specific needs.
Finally, the clinical case of an 18-year-old girl who, through a psychodiagnostic evaluation, was diagnosed with mild intellectual disability is presented.