Adaptive Behavior: Tests and Assessment Issues

Increased emphasis has been placed on including an evaluation of adaptive behavior in the assessment of children considered mildly mentally retarded. Reasons for this increased emphasis are reviewed, including general trends in societal views concerning treatment of the mentally retarded. Following a discussion of the various definitions of adaptive behavior, the present article discusses the relationship between measures of adaptive behavior and intellectual ability and the issue of declassification. Particular emphasis is placed upon the educational relevance of adaptive behavior in efforts toward nonbiased assessment and classification of the mildly retarded.