{"h1":"ICD-11 Classification for Intellectual Disability (6A00)","faq":[{"a":"The ICD-11-MMS code is 6A00, listed as Disorders of Intellectual Development within the Neurodevelopmental Disorders grouping. Severity is specified as mild (6A00.0), moderate (6A00.1), severe (6A00.2) or profound (6A00.3).","q":"What is the ICD-11 code for Intellectual Disability?"},{"a":"ICD-11 adopted this term to replace older, stigmatising nomenclature and to anchor the diagnosis in both intellectual and adaptive functioning during the developmental period, rather than IQ score alone.","q":"Why does ICD-11 use the term 'Disorders of Intellectual Development'?"},{"a":"ICD-11 provides provisional categories — such as 6A00.4, Disorder of intellectual development, provisional — so that support can begin when age or co-occurring impairment prevents valid standardised assessment.","q":"How does ICD-11 handle cases where standardised testing isn't feasible?"},{"a":"Severity is graded by assessing conceptual, social and practical adaptive domains alongside intellectual functioning, using appropriately normed and culturally valid instruments where available.","q":"How is severity determined under 6A00?"}],"lang":"en","slug":"what-is-the-icd-11-classification-for-intellectual-disability","title":"ICD-11 Classification for Intellectual Disability (6A00)","entity":{"key":"id","kind":"condition","name":"Intellectual Disability","slug":null},"lenses":[{"kind":"stakeholder","label":"Doctor","value":"doctor"},{"kind":"domain","label":"Cognitive","value":"cognitive"},{"kind":"intent","label":"Definition","value":"definition"},{"kind":"lifecycle","label":"Screen","value":"screen"},{"kind":"route","label":"Special-Education","value":"special-education"},{"kind":"empowerment","label":"Early Clarity","value":"early_clarity"}],"parent":{"key":"conditions","label":"Conditions"},"related":[{"lang":"en","slug":"which-icf-functioning-domains-does-intellectual-disability-affect-in-early-childhood","title":"ICF functioning domains affected by Intellectual Disability in early childhood"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-does-intellectual-disability-affect-a-child-s-cognitive-development","title":"How Intellectual Disability Affects Cognitive Development"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-is-intellectual-disability-and-what-are-its-icd-11-features-in-early-childhood","title":"What is Intellectual Disability, and what are its ICD-11 features in early childhood?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-is-intellectual-disability","title":"What is Intellectual Disability?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-is-intellectual-disability-diagnosed-in-a-child","title":"How is Intellectual Disability diagnosed in a child?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-is-the-icd-11-classification-for-specific-learning-disability","title":"ICD-11 Classification for Specific Learning Disability"}],"summary":"In ICD-11-MMS, Intellectual Disability is classified as 6A00, Disorders of Intellectual Development, under Neurodevelopmental Disorders. It is defined by significantly below-average intellectual and adaptive functioning originating in the developmental period, with severity coded mild, moderate, severe or profound, plus provisional categories where standardised testing is not yet feasible.","answer_md":"*Every clinician needs the same anchor point: where does this child's developmental profile sit in the international classification? ICD-11 gives it a precise home.*\n\n## In short\nIn ICD-11-MMS, Intellectual Disability is classified under **6A00 — Disorders of Intellectual Development**, within the grouping of **Neurodevelopmental Disorders**. ICD-11 defines it as a group of aetiologically diverse conditions originating during the developmental period, characterised by **significantly below-average intellectual functioning and adaptive behaviour** that are approximately two or more standard deviations below the mean. Severity is specified — **mild (6A00.0), moderate (6A00.1), severe (6A00.2), profound (6A00.3)**, with provisional and unspecified categories where standardised testing is not feasible.\n\n## How ICD-11 frames the diagnosis\nA key shift in ICD-11 is the term *Disorders of Intellectual Development*, replacing the older *mental retardation* nomenclature, and aligning the diagnostic logic with both intellectual and **adaptive functioning** rather than IQ alone. Severity is determined by assessing conceptual, social and practical adaptive domains, using appropriately normed and culturally valid instruments wherever available. Where age (early childhood) or co-occurring sensory, motor or communication impairment prevents valid standardised assessment, ICD-11 provides provisional categories — for example **6A00.4, Disorder of intellectual development, provisional** — so that support is not delayed pending formal testing. This functional, developmental-period framing sits naturally alongside the WHO ICF model of functioning.\n\n## When to refer\nRefer a child for structured developmental assessment when global delay is evident across multiple domains, when adaptive skills lag persistently behind age expectations, or when parental and educational concern converge — rather than waiting for a single IQ figure. In early childhood, a *global developmental delay* descriptor is often more appropriate until reliable standardised intellectual assessment becomes feasible, typically beyond the preschool years.\n\n## The Pinnacle way\nAt Pinnacle Blooms Network, Developmental measurement supports care planning; diagnosis requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional., under qualified clinician care — never from an app, a form, or this page. Our clinician-administered structured assessment translates a child's profile into a clear baseline and a [practical support plan](/), drawing on 2.5 billion+ data points and 25 million+ therapy sessions across 70+ centres. Explore [how the AbilityScore is established](/ask/what-is-the-abilityscore-and-how-is-it-calculated) and [cognitive and developmental therapy pathways](/special-education-therapy).\n\n## Trusted sources\nWHO ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics, category 6A00, Disorders of intellectual development; CDC developmental milestone guidance; Indian Academy of Pediatrics; American Academy of Pediatrics paediatric developmental guidance.\n\n**Next step —** To establish a child's developmental baseline and severity profile with clinical rigour, [partner with a Pinnacle clinician](/).\n\nThis is general information, not a diagnosis — individual assessment and diagnosis require an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.","canonical":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-the-icd-11-classification-for-intellectual-disability","editorial":{"reviewed_at":"2026-06-11T20:12:18.613642+00:00","reviewed_by":null,"developed_by":"SETU Consortium · Pinnacle Blooms Network"},"alternates":[{"href":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-the-icd-11-classification-for-intellectual-disability","lang":"en","indexable":true},{"href":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-the-icd-11-classification-for-intellectual-disability-te","lang":"te","indexable":true}],"dimensions":[{"key":"conditions","label":"Conditions"}],"meta_title":"ICD-11 Code 6A00: Intellectual Disability","meta_robots":"index, follow, max-image-preview:large","everyday_tip":"In early childhood, use the global developmental delay descriptor until reliable standardised intellectual assessment is feasible, and document adaptive functioning across conceptual, social and practical domains, not IQ alone.","published_at":"2026-06-10T10:52:00.07543+00:00","reading_paths":[{"key":"understand","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"what-is-intellectual-disability-and-what-are-its-icd-11-features-in-early-childhood","title":"What is Intellectual Disability, and what are its ICD-11 features in early 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the early signs of Intellectual Disability in a 1-year-old girl?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-early-signs-of-intellectual-disability-in-a-12-to-18-month-old","title":"Early Signs of Intellectual Disability in a 12-to-18-Month-Old","reason":"Same topic"}],"label":"Recognise signs & concerns","total":44},{"key":"causes","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"how-does-intellectual-disability-affect-a-child-s-cognitive-development","title":"How Intellectual Disability Affects Cognitive Development","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-known-contributing-factors-for-intellectual-disability-in-early-childhood","title":"Contributing Factors for Intellectual Disability","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"are-boys-more-likely-to-have-intellectual-disability","title":"Are boys more likely to have intellectual disability?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"are-girls-more-likely-to-have-intellectual-disability","title":"Are girls more likely to have Intellectual Disability?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-does-early-intervention-for-intellectual-disability-advance-un-child-rights-uncrpd-and-the-sdgs","title":"Early Intervention for Intellectual Disability and the UNCRPD/SDGs","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-causes-intellectual-disability-in-young-children","title":"What causes Intellectual Disability in young children?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-is-the-cost-effectiveness-of-early-therapy-for-intellectual-disability-in-young-children","title":"Cost-Effectiveness of Early Therapy for Intellectual Disability","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-is-the-prevalence-and-public-health-burden-of-intellectual-disability-among-young-children-in-india","title":"Intellectual Disability in India: prevalence and public-health burden","reason":"Same topic"}],"label":"Explore causes & 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100–200 mean for a child with Intellectual Disability?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-does-an-abilityscore-of-200-300-mean-for-a-child-with-intellectual-disability","title":"What an AbilityScore of 200–300 Means in Intellectual Disability","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-does-an-abilityscore-of-300-400-mean-for-a-child-with-intellectual-disability","title":"What an AbilityScore of 300-400 Means for a Child with Intellectual Disability","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-does-an-abilityscore-of-400-500-mean-for-a-child-with-intellectual-disability","title":"What an AbilityScore of 400–500 Means in Intellectual Disability","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-does-an-abilityscore-of-500-600-mean-for-a-child-with-intellectual-disability","title":"What an AbilityScore of 500–600 Means in Intellectual Disability","reason":"Same 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Act Early."},{"url":"https://www.healthychildren.org","label":"American Academy of Pediatrics — HealthyChildren.org"}],"last_reviewed_at":"2026-06-10T10:52:00.07543+00:00","meta_description":"ICD-11-MMS classifies Intellectual Disability as 6A00, Disorders of Intellectual Development — defined by intellectual and adaptive functioning, with sever","related_materials":[],"related_techniques":[]}