Students classified as having an intellectual disability must exhibit significant deficits in both intellectual abilities and what other domain?

• A. Reading and mathematics
• B. Physical dexterity
• C. Adaptive behavior
• D. Auditory processing

Answer: (C)

Deficits in adaptive behavior accompany intellectual functioning deficits to determine an intellectual disability. Adaptive behavior refers to everyday skills needed to live independently and function in daily life. It includes three key areas: conceptual skills (like language, literacy, and numeracy concepts), social skills (communication, social judgment, following rules), and practical skills (daily living tasks such as personal care, money management, safety, and transportation). These adaptive skills must be significantly below what's expected for the person’s age and sociocultural background, and they must begin during the developmental period.

That’s why the best answer is adaptive behavior. Reading and math are part of conceptual skills, but they don’t by themselves capture the full range of daily functioning. Physical dexterity and auditory processing are not the defining domains for diagnosing an intellectual disability, though they may be related in some individuals.