mental retardation is now called
Intellectual disability (ID), also called intellectual development disorder (IDD) or general learning disability, and formerly known as mental retardation (MR), is a generalized neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by significantly impaired intellectual and adaptive functioning. Retarded comes from the Latin retardare, to make slow, delay, keep back, or hinder, so mental retardation meant the same as mentally delayed. 2  The term was recorded in 1426 as a fact or action of making slower in movement or time.. 3  The first record of retarded in relation to being mentally slow was in 1895.