The simple idea
Two things together make up intellectual functioning:
- Intellectual abilities (reasoning, problem‑solving), and
- Adaptive functioning — how well someone manages everyday life: communication, self‑care, money, safety, routines.
That's why two people with similar test scores can be very different: one lives largely independently, the other needs lots of daily support. A test score alone isn't the whole story.
Three things not to mix up
- Intellectual developmental disorder — broad limits in both intellectual and everyday‑living skills.
- Global developmental delay — used for a young child with significant delays across several areas, while things are still becoming clear.
- Learning disorder — a specific academic difficulty (reading = dyslexia; maths = dyscalculia) in a child whose overall intelligence is normal.
| Condition | Main problem |
|---|---|
| Intellectual developmental disorder | broad intellectual + everyday‑living limits |
| Global developmental delay | young child, broad delays, still unfolding |
| Learning disorder | one specific academic skill (dyslexia / dyscalculia) |
The key insight
Quick check ✅
- Besides "intelligence," what else defines intellectual functioning?
- Can a child of normal intelligence have a learning disorder?
Remember this 🌟
Where we're going next → From development to a group of serious, often hidden conditions — eating disorders (Concept 33).