Health bill uses word "retarded" ??!!

Does anyone have a link to this? I've just heard that the new health bill uses the word retarded to denote those with mental disabilities, or similar unwellness. This would be sad indeed.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/07262009...ill_181448.htm

That's special...

"Mental retardation" is a term that I've heard before, but part of it's symptomology/classification is for those with an IQ below 70.

Sigh. People are so... dumb.

i understand that there is stigma around the word, but from that article it doesn't sound as if it is being used improperly. retardation typically refers to people who have an IQ below 70, although recently it has also been extended to include ppl who have significant limitations with adaptive behaviour (e.g., communication, ability to care for self etc). the article refers to the bill saying "hospital, nursing facility or intermediate-care facility" - which makes me think they really did mean to refer to people who sadly do fall under this classification i.e., people who need higher levels of care because they cannot do it themselves.

it did not sound like it was being used to describe unrelated mental disorders e.g., schizophrenia, depression. it sounds like it was being used in its technical sense.

i dont know - could well be a cultural thing - that the word is more taboo in the US than over here, but i personally do not see a problem with (what i've inferred) it was used for, given that one article wanttoheal posted. obviously, taken out of its surrounding context, so who knows .

The DSM IV-TR also includes "Mental Retardation" as a diagnosis. Supporters of this population prefer "developmentally disabled," but "mentally retarded" is technically correct. And generally accurate - referring to delays in attaining developmental milestones due to intellectual impairment. Intellectually impaired is another accepted term.

Whe I was working with this population, I heard some of the clients using "retarded" as an insult, without understanding what it meant - often they were referring to some celebrity that they or another client were obsessed with. I also had one client come into my office one day (she had a routine, where every day she sat down by my desk for about 5-10 minutes and usually told me she was going to take a train to Alaska for vacation), anyway, one day she came in and said, "do you know that I am mentally retarded?" I just pointed out the many things that she could do well, and that she genuinely enjoyed life and did things like anyone else would, and that was what counts. She was very matter of fact and not upset - just learning a new word.

That's INSANE!!!!! It's MADNESS I tell you!!!!

Well...okay, so I don't really care for the terminology myself; it isn't really politically correct, but I can't say that I'm going to let it get me down that much. I got bigger eggs to cackle over!!

Technically, the term "retarded" means "hindered". I have DID, Depression, Complex-PTSD....therefor technically I am hindered.

AND I'M NOT ASHAMED!!!!!

I think that there are worse things. There are certain books with ideals in them that state that it is clearly okay, in fact it is a parental duty to beat your children...."Spare the rod, spoil the child...". That irritates me a lot more.

I'm just glad that our President knows how to speak and relate to people, and if he says or does something not quite PC, he takes accountability for it. That's a heck of a lot more than you could say about that last Yahoo who had the job.

Angry AMBER

http://ies.ed.gov/ncser/pubs/2007300...s/table_a5.asp

I do not care for the word myself, but based upon a recent discussion with my son over his use of the word “gay” to describe anything he doesn’t like, I pondered my reasoning a bit. I think this is another instance when a word began as a description of something and was later used as an insult so we automatically see it with a negative connotation.

As previously stated, its literal definition is used for a specific description quite clearly and accurately.

Isn’t it ludicrous that because a bunch of children started using the word as an insult, as a society we’re on a rampage when it’s being used correctly? We automatically jump to the conclusion that it is meant in some derogatory fashion. Words have power, but we have the power to put some common sense back into the world.

In Canada, as far as I understand, the debate is about developmentally delayed, special needs, or a few others. It would be shocking to hear or to have people bring back the term 'retarded', not only because of the stigma but because it does not correctly describe the current information about brain development. That word was banned years ago here. As far as I understand DSM IV-TR, it is currently about 4 or more years old, correct? The only people I hear using the term retarded now are teens/young people who obviously have not been sensitized to these very amazing and wonderful people.

Hunny

you know what I find so sad about that , is you can score so low when taking a test. A written test. Yet score so very high when given to you verbally like my son is .
Thats how they decide if someone has a LD ...
I have all his papers here will read threw them,
That was a very old word.....I dislike it imo

Every word that has been used initially to DESCRIBE a person as having low IQ has come to take on negative (insulting) connotations. They can't change the terminology fast enough to keep up. E.g., `Cretin', `moron', `imbecile', `idiot',

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_...ernative_terms

I wanted to post something in here yesterday but I was so ashamed. When I get very stressed I look retarded for all intense purposes. My body shakes or spasms, I stutter like a trooper. MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM People stare.

So I guess I am retarded as I cant control my body. Even my psychiatrist hates me to call myself that. Its sad that the definition has been used in a derogatory way.

I dunno - just my five cents worth.

(((possum))))))) my kind hearted friend. I read your writtings , my friend you are not that word.
Words I wish did not bring shame....I wish they were used as intended

When I am stressed my friend my words can come out of sorta backwards. I hear it in my head the right way...but the sentance can acually mean the oppisite...that i have thought ...
It can be hard for ppl. It only happnens once in awhile and then i make a joke to cover it. But it happens in my writting.,..I am delexic when stressed...
Never be ashamed of who you are if you can ...as I see you as a kind person.....just my 2 cents for you dear one
hope it was ok.....

I agree with Kim, basically. I have no problem with the word "retarded." I have a problem with people always expecting everyone else to be politically correct and overreacting to some things. No matter what you change a term to, someone will use it derogatorily. "Mentally challenged," "developmentally debilitated," or whatever, all get used to refer to someone stupid or weird. Retarded individuals were taught to call themselves "special," and now that term can be used as an insult, too.

Forget about changing words and terms, and if using them as an insult bothers you, don't do it. Just know that others will.

Sky, I think this link maybe helpful to you regarding how you feel about certain words

http://forums.psychcentral.com/showthread.php?t=108173

It isn't about how I "feel" about the word, but the implications the usage of the word makes. Wishing they had chosen a better word is not pathological.

TC!

Two thumbs up on the "pathalogical" statement!!

Personally, I don't have a problem with the way it was used in the bill.

Sadly, that Health Bill has so many other more serious implications that put the use of the term "retarded" very much down in the noise in comparison to the rest of the issues......don't know if any of those are being discussed of it they are too political?

Debbie

> [B]It isn't about how I "feel" about the word, but the implications the usage of the word makes.

The trouble is in distinguishing between the accepted meaning of a term (as set by a field of study, as reflected in dictionaries etc) and in the connotations (emotional feel, non-standard implications) that come to be associated with the word over time. I understand that FOR YOU the word has unpleasant / derogatory connotations. I also understand that TECHNICALLY the word has a very precise operationalized meaning and it doesn't have unpleasant / derogatory connotations at all - rather it is a relatively theory neutral DESCRIPTION of certain behaviors.

I do feel quite strongly about `political correctness' and more importantly in understanding the reasons behind terminology change (it does have a very significant impact on self-conception and the like). Don't forget `retarded' occurs quite frequently as a technical term: e.g., `psychomotor retardation' is a symptom of depression etc. The word is starting to take on negative connotations - but the trouble is that ANY word that starts out as a relatively neutral description comes to be adopted by some to signify an insult.

What can one do? Manage the intent behind our own words, I guess. We can't stop others using them with whatever connotations... We can manage ourselves.

> Wishing they had chosen a better word is not pathological.

I don't think that anybody is saying that it is pathological. But...

1) What would a 'better' word be?

2) How long do you think it will take before that word comes to be used (by some) with unpleasant connotations?

Sadly, that Health Bill has so many other more serious implications that put the use of the term "retarded" very much down in the noise in comparison to the rest of the issues......don't know if any of those are being discussed of it they are too political

I agree with this wholeheartedly, any detail would invite political debate but I would urge people to go past the media on this, pull a copy up and read through it. This legislation has a very profound affect on our personal lives down the road.

Of paticular concern to me is what is on page 425. For those who may be getting up in their years may want to read that page VERY CAREFULLY, I will not say here what it is out of fear of censorship, but that part has some very dire implications for senior citizens and younger folks who have elderly parents.

I will say no more, read and decide for yourselves if this is what you really want.

Oh I think it always comes down to how we feel about a word. Glad you could make use of your list.

i dont see anyone suggesting your wish for a different word is 'pathological'. i also didn't realise that the list you posted (linked by Melbadaze) was intended for those who were 'pathological'. i just saw it as a simple list to help examine cognitive distortions and encourage us to look at our thoughts more closely .

i am also confused about what you see as the "implications" of the word. "retarded" has a very specific meaning in the DSM-IV, and it has been used appropriately (given that definition) in this health bill. i am woefully ignorant on all things to do with law, but i would hazard a guess that the bill would see "retard" as a purely medical/legal definition. putting in a word like "special", "developmentally disabled" would require a new definition of the disorder/population they are trying to describe and i doubt they have the money/time to do that. maybe things will change when the DSM-V comes out, who knows.

i agree with those who have suggested that it's not the word itself, but the stigma that gets attached to it. changing words every few years does nothing to actually combat stigma, but it does mean a whole heap of organisations have to keep updating their names and image to keep up (thereby wasting $$$ when they are usually under funded anyway).

I’m just throwing my 2 ¢ into the ring. Sky if it’s not your feelings of the word, what exactly offends you about this? As stated the term mentally retarded has a specific set of criteria recognized by all states and medical personal. Perhaps it’s archaic but I agree with deliquesce, if we changed the terminology to suit the current political correctness it would lead to mass confusion. I think we’ve all learned that vague is bad when it comes to legislation.

Pathological would not have come to mind while considering your mindset on this topic, but I am curious to hear what you think is more appropriate lingo in this situation.

This thread is timely for me, because my 9 year old (who has autism) just started using the word "retarded" as an insult.

I sat down with him and explained the technical definition of the word retarded. I told him that it would make someone with retardation really sad to hear that word used in a mean way. We talked about how it would feel if "autistic" was used as an insult (he is very proud of his autism). He got it, and he doesn't use the word anymore, and will explain to others why they shouldn't either.

I had to have the same talk with my 12 year old about the word "gay".

When words are used correctly, there is no power behind them.

Peace

You are so awesome.....If only all parents would handle their children this way......providing them with the understanding of how it feels & to be concerned about how others feel when we say something has sadly been LOST in the children & it's because parents haven't cared to do exactly what you have done here.

It's more than just knowing the correct use of the word, but knowing how using it incorrectly can really hurt.......most of society in all has lost the parental responsibility of teaching this to their children.

What an awesome parent you are.....lucky children that have you for a parent.


Debbie