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. 2012 Feb;17(2):71-4.
doi: 10.1093/pch/17.2.71.

What's in a name? Attitudes surrounding the use of the term 'mental retardation'

Chris Nash  1 , Ann Hawkins, Janet Kawchuk, Sarah E Shea
Affiliations

What's in a name? Attitudes surrounding the use of the term 'mental retardation'

Chris Nash et al. Paediatr Child Health. 2012 Feb.

Abstract
in English, French

Over the past 200 years, there have been periodic shifts in the terminology used to describe what is still most commonly referred to in the medical world as 'mental retardation'. There are differing opinions about the acceptability of the term, but very little existing evidence on which clinicians can base their decisions regarding what terminology to use with patients and families, and with one another. The present survey of parents and professionals used questions based on paper-based clinical scenarios to survey each group's attitudes about terminology usage. The results of both the parent and professional surveys support a move away from the use of the term mental retardation. The majority of parents indicated that they would be upset if a physician used the term mental retardation. Some professionals reported being criticized for using the term. Teaching about terminology has been variable.

Depuis 200 ans, on observe des changements périodiques dans la terminologie utilisée pour décrire ce qui est encore surtout désigné dans le monde médical par retard mental. Les opinions divergent quant à l’acceptabilité du terme, mais il existe très peu de données probantes sur lesquelles les cliniciens peuvent justifier leur décision quant au choix de terminologie à utiliser auprès des patients et des familles et les uns avec les autres. Ce sondage auprès des parents et des professionnels faisait appel à des questions fondées sur des scénarios cliniques écrits afin de connaître les attitudes de chaque groupe au sujet de l’utilisation de la terminologie. Les résultats du sondage auprès des parents et des professionnels appuient le rejet du terme retard mental. La majorité des parents seraient vexés si un médecin utilisait ce terme. Certains professionnels ont déclaré avoir été critiqués pour l’avoir employé. L’enseignement au sujet de la terminologie est variable.

Keywords: Intellectual disability; Mental retardation; Terminology.

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