Talk:Mental deficiency

''This term certaintly shouldn't be used. It is offensive. Use severe mental retardation or something similar instead. -- Simon J Kissane''

This term is not used by physicians today. The DSM-IV classification of retardation is as follows:


 * 317 Mild Mental Retardation. (IQ 50-55 to 70)
 * 318.0 Moderate Mental Retardation. (IQ 35-40 to 50-55)
 * 318.1 Severe Mental Retardation. (IQ 20-25 to 35-40)
 * 318.2 Profound Mental Retardation. (IQ less than 20-25)
 * 319 Mental Retardation, Severity Unspecified. (the patient cannot be tested, but significant retardation seems highly likely)

"Idiot" is not part of any CURRENT medical classification scheme. -- Someone else 17:49 Jan 24, 2003 (UTC)

I think we should redirect this page to learning disability, which is the accepted term nowadays. -- Tarquin 22:05, 10 Dec 2003 (UTC)