Étude du fonctionnement adaptatif d'adultes présentant une déficience intellectuelle : rôles des apprentissages réalisés dans l'enfance, de l'âge et du quotient intellectuel ; étude préliminaire observationnelle de 16 adultes

The objective of this study was to investigate the adaptive functioning of adults who had a slight to moderate intellectual deficiency, in regard of age and intellectual quotient (IQ). Cognitive and adaptive functioning were evaluated using the WAIS and VINELAND scales in 16 adults who accepted to participate in this study. We found a correlation between global IQ and each domain of the adaptive score, mostly communication skills. We also found that there was an age effect on socialization skills. Most skills were learned during infancy and adolescence, especially communication skills, which are highly stable at different ages and highly correlated with IQ. However, some abilities are still acquired in adulthood, mostly socialization skills, especially in persons with the lowest IQ. These data are of particular interest for people caring for disabled adults.