profound retardation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "profound retardation" is grammatically correct but may be considered outdated or offensive in certain contexts.
It can be used in discussions related to developmental delays or cognitive impairments, but caution is advised due to its potentially negative connotations. Example: "The study focused on the effects of early intervention in children with profound retardation."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Profound retardation.

The New Yorker

Emotionally, this kind of program can be overwhelming: Nearly all of the 1,000 residents at Fairview suffer from severe or profound retardation and physical disabilities.

Los Angeles Times

But the profound retardation of the drug release from the geopolymer structures opens up for precise control of the sustained release rates, simply by adjusting the size of the pellets and thereby affecting the diffusion length in the structures.

Plosone

A profound retardation of the release was observed in vitro, and it was possible to obtain an almost linear release profile from the aluminum rich compositions, which is a very desirable property for sustained release formulations.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Each child was allocated to specific categories in Table 1, either as profound mental retardation, severe mental retardation, moderate mental retardation or mild mental retardation based on the clinicians' judgment.

Behavioral and Brain Functions

As few children were diagnosed with profound mental retardation we combined this category with severe mental retardation.

British Medical Journal

We collected data on 226 adults, mostly with severe or profound mental retardation, from a medium-sized developmental center.

Research in Developmental Disabilities

Issues remain, like how causation takes place on an individual level, and the nature of psychiatric disorders in persons with severe and profound mental retardation.

Research in Developmental Disabilities

In "Sex Sleep Eat Drink Dream," references to her family history — her sister's profound mental retardation, the toll this took on her mother — are painfully out of place.

The New York Times - Books

We observed aggressive and self-injurious behavior in three groups of 15 individuals with severe or profound mental retardation and mental illness before, during, and after being in a Snoezelen room.

Research in Developmental Disabilities

Infants born with this disorder have profound mental retardation and severe developmental malformations that include a small head, a cleft palate and lip, tiny eyes and eye openings, extra digits on hands and feet (polydactyly), clenched fingers, central nervous system abnormalities, and defects in many internal organs.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing intellectual disabilities, prioritize using person-first language (e.g., "person with an intellectual disability") to respect individual dignity.

Common error

Avoid using the term "retardation" in contemporary writing due to its historical association with stigmatization and negative connotations. Instead, opt for more respectful and accurate terms such as "intellectual disability" or "cognitive impairment".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "profound retardation" functions as a descriptor, specifying the severity of mental retardation. As Ludwig AI explains, while grammatically correct, it may be considered outdated or offensive.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "profound retardation" is grammatically sound but carries historical and potentially offensive connotations. Ludwig AI indicates that more modern terms like "severe intellectual disability" or "significant cognitive impairment" are preferred in contemporary usage. While still found in some scientific and news contexts, it's crucial to prioritize respectful, person-first language when discussing intellectual disabilities. The phrase functions descriptively, categorizing a specific degree of cognitive impairment, but its formal and scientific register is increasingly replaced by more sensitive alternatives. Consider the context carefully and opt for more respectful terms in modern conversation and writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

severe intellectual disability

Replaces "retardation" with a more current and less stigmatizing term, while maintaining the emphasis on the severity.

significant cognitive impairment

Shifts the focus from a general term to a specific description of cognitive function.

extreme developmental delay

Focuses on the developmental aspect rather than intellectual capacity.

intellectual disability of a severe degree

Rephrases to emphasize the degree of the disability.

profound intellectual impairment

Substitutes "retardation" with "impairment", which carries a less negative connotation.

serious cognitive deficit

Focuses on the deficit in cognitive abilities, highlighting the medical aspect.

major developmental disability

Emphasizes the broad impact on development using the word 'major' to convey severity.

extensive cognitive disability

Highlights the reach and impact of cognitive difficulties.

acute cognitive deficit

Acute implies the deficit is serious and possibly sudden in onset or impact.

deep mental deficiency

Deep implies that the deficiency is entrenched and difficult to overcome.

FAQs

What are some respectful alternatives to "profound retardation"?

Consider using more modern and respectful terms such as "severe intellectual disability", "significant cognitive impairment", or "extreme developmental delay".

Is "profound retardation" an offensive term?

While historically used in medical contexts, "profound retardation" is now widely considered offensive due to its stigmatizing connotations. It's best to use alternative phrases that are more respectful and person-centered.

How is "profound retardation" classified in terms of intellectual disability?

"Profound retardation", when the term was in use, referred to the most severe form of intellectual disability, indicating significant limitations in adaptive behavior and cognitive functioning. Current classifications use terms like "severe intellectual disability" instead.

What factors contribute to a person being diagnosed with what was formerly known as "profound retardation"?

Individuals formerly diagnosed with "profound retardation" often had significant genetic conditions, severe brain injuries, or other factors that profoundly impacted cognitive and adaptive development from an early age. Today, assessment focuses on adaptive functioning and cognitive skills to diagnose severe intellectual disability.