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Approved by APA Council of Representatives, August 2026

The purpose of these Professional Practice Guidelines is to identify the current national consensus on the diagnostic criteria defining intellectual disability, the clinical approach to assessing significant deficits in both intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior, as well as the age of onset of these significant deficits, and important factors to consider when conducting a determination of intellectual disability in a forensic context.

Per APA policy, they will expire December 31, 2036.

Read the full guidelines (PDF, 468KB)opens in new window

Date created: August 2026