The term used in DSM-5 instead of 'mental retardation' is:

• A. Intellectual Disability
• B. Autism
• C. Developmental Delay
• D. Cognitive Disorder

Answer: (A)

The DSM-5 uses Intellectual Disability to describe lifelong limitations in intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior that begin during the developmental period. This diagnosis requires deficits in intellectual functioning (such as reasoning, problem-solving, planning, and learning) confirmed by standardized testing, plus deficits in adaptive functioning that impact conceptual, social, and practical skills across daily life. The onset must be during childhood or adolescence, and severity is described by adaptive functioning levels rather than by IQ alone.

This term replaces the older label mental retardation to reduce stigma and align with how the condition is defined in practice. Autism is a separate diagnosis focused on social-communication deficits and restricted, repetitive behaviors; Developmental Delay is a pediatric screening term, not a DSM-5 disorder; Cognitive Disorder refers to acquired cognitive impairments like delirium or dementia, not developmental difficulties.