Talk:Intellectual disability/FAQ

Why is this page named mental retardation? In my own culture, we call this (pick all that apply: mental disability, developmental delay, developmental disability, developmental disorder, special educational needs, special needs, intellectual disability, etc.).

Most of those names are actually broad categories that include MR plus many unrelated issues, such as cerebral palsy or blindness. We chose mental retardation because that is the name formally given to this particular condition by the World Health Organization and other international health authorities and because it applies exclusively to this particular condition.

Can't we change it to the name preferred by advocates or parents in my own country?

Wikipedia is an international encyclopedia and normally uses the recognized scientific or medical name as determined by international authorities rather than changing with fashions.

Don't some people use this term as an insult?

Many children and even some adults will use any name associated with a lack of intelligence as an insult. MR was actually invented because people used the previous medical name for this condition as an insult. The euphemism treadmill will always apply. This means that no matter what name you give this condition, that name will be used as an insult by rude people.