MattShizzle wrote:
A negative IQ is not possible. It makes as much sense to talk about a negative IQ as it would to talk about someone having a negative height/weight/age. Anything below about 40 they certainly wouldn't be able to write or even control their bodily functions.
Umm... No. You're really underestimating. With an IQ of 40, some people are actually living semi-independently (you know, like an apartment of your own with an assistant that comes in a few hours a day). Most can get about a 1st or 2nd grade education. And while most will need supervision, they'll be able to take care of their own basic needs and have simple jobs. We've spent a great deal of time assuming that anybody, with any degree of mental retardation, can't do.. well, can't do much of anything. Turns out most of that data came from institutions where kids grew up without much attention, without real education, without much opportunity to learn. We're going to have to do a complete overhaul of that, because frankly, IQ doesn't say as much about them as they think it does. You expect somebody not to be able to do things, and they'll fulfill your expectations.
I did a Google search, came up with a case history of moderate-to-severe MR, IQ 40:
http://www.lessonplanspage.com/SSLevels ... n912MO.htmIt's about three-quarters down the page. Quoted:
Quote:
Mary is a 19-year-old woman with moderate mental retardation. She is currently enrolled in the "Adaptive Living Program" at the local high school. She has Down Syndrome, and was identified as having this condition shortly after birth. Mary lives at home with her parents. She is now the "only child" as her older sister is currently away at college, and her older brother is in the Air Force. Mary's parents, both of whom are college graduates, plan to keep her at home until she completes her schooling (at age 21). They assume she will then move to a semi-independent living situation (SIL). If that does not work out, they will attempt to place her in a local group home.
Mary began attending special education classes at age three, though she and her family began receiving support services shortly after her birth. During kindergarten through sixth grade, she was integrated into a regular classroom for part of each school day. However, the major emphasis of her education has always been the development of self-help skills and functional academics. Mary is able to dress and groom herself and can perform various household chores. She can count, make change, and is able to do basic addition and subtraction. She reads and spells at about a second to third-grade level. Mary is currently receiving job training skills as part of the transition services provided by her school district.
Mary's learning skills have been evaluated a number of times over the years, with her IQ scores ranging from the mid 30s to the mid 40s. Her most recent evaluation resulted in a mental age of eight years and seven months, and an I.Q. score of 44. The AAMR Adaptive Behavior Scale was also administered, and resulted in an age-equivalent of nine years, two months.
BTW. I think the negative IQ thing was a joke, from the common quip that, "I took an IQ test. It came out negative." Plays on the difference between scored tests and positive/negative test results, sort of a self-deprecating humor thing.
20 Jun 2009, 2:50 pm
