Recent Issues in the Developmental Approach to Mental Retardation

Strengths and weaknesses in executive functioning in children with intellectual disability

“…The use of MA and CA comparison groups also allowed us to address issues related to the developmental model of intellectual disability (Zigler, 1969;Zigler & Balla, 1982). This model states that the cognitive development of 'cultural-familial' children with ID (i.e.…”

Implicit memory is independent from IQ and age but not from etiology: evidence from Down and Williams syndromes

“…That distinct etiological groups of individuals with ID perform differently on implicit memory tasks is relevant for the more general debate on the supposed asynchrony of cognitive maturation depending on the aetiology of the abnormal brain development. Indeed, following the developmental approach to ID (Zigler 1969; Zigler & Balla 1982), if individuals with and without ID of the same cognitive level (for instance, with similar MA) are compared, then a similar level of cognitive functioning is predicted in domains that involve learning, problem solving, information‐processing and related psychological processes. In the same vein, children with ID of comparable cognitive level but different aetiology (i.e.…”

Cognitive profiles in adolescents with mental retardation

“…By the sole means of IQ, it is also difficult to verify the nature of MR. In fact, the discussion about whether persons with MR display slower development of cognitive abilities (Zigler, 1969;Zigler & Balla, 1982), or alternatively, develop their cognitive system as the result of different processes, one or more of which may be deficient (Ellis, 1969;Ellis & Cavalier, 1982), receives no contribution from IQ and psychometric evaluations.…”