amentia

amentia

 [a-men´shah]

former term for profound mental retardation.

men·tal re·tar·da·tion

subaverage general intellectual functioning that originates during the developmental period and is associated with impairment in adaptive behavior. The American Association on Mental Deficiency lists eight medical classifications and five psychological classifications; the latter five replace the three former classifications of moron, imbecile, and idiot. Mental retardation classification requires assignment of an index for performance relative to a person's peers on two interrelated criteria: measured intelligence (IQ) and overall socioadaptive behavior (a judgmental rating of the person's relative level of performance in school, at work, at home, and in the community). In general an IQ of 70 or less indicates mental retardation (mild = 50/55-70; moderate = 35/40-50/55; severe = 20/25-35/40; profound = below 20/25); an IQ of 70-85 signifies borderline intellectual functioning.

Synonym(s): amentia (1) , mental deficiency, oligophrenia

amentia

(ā-mĕn′shə, -shē-ə)

n.

Severe intellectual disability. This term belongs to a classification system no longer in use.

amentia

(1) Severe mental retardation.
(2) Mental incapacity due to agenesis or underdevelopment of cerebral cortex.

de·men·ti·a

(dĕ-men'shē-ă)

The loss, usually progressive, of cognitive and intellectual functions, without impairment of perception or consciousness; caused by a variety of disorders including severe infections and toxins, but most commonly associated with structural brain disease. Characterized by disorientation, impaired memory, judgment, and intellect, and a shallow labile affect.
Synonym(s): amentia.

[L. fr. de- priv. + mens, mind]

amentia

The absence, from failure of development, of the intellectual powers.