Hello! I took Introduction to Nursing last semester at my college. My teacher was an older women who still worked as a nurse at a local hospital. She also teaches other classes at our school. During a lecture one day, she continually used the word "retarded" to describe cognitively impaired people. It took me by surprise because I thought "intellectually disabled" and "cognitively impaired" were the appropriate terms to describe someone who is mentally retarded.
I want to make it clear that she was not saying anything negative about intellectually disabled people. But it did make me concerned that other people around me might have children or siblings who have this and it might hurt their feelings.
Is it normal for people in the health care profession to continue to use the word "retarded?" Keep in mind my teacher was older but she is still active as a nurse. Not a post bashing my teacher or people who use the word "retarded." I am just genuinely curious on the usage of this word in modern times.
Now I am humming "The Wheels on the Bus Go 'Round and 'Round"
Did I mention that I hate you?
OK, now I hate you. You got that song stuck in my head!
Seriously though....the political correctness movement has gone way overboard. There are legitimately some words and phrases that are pretty obviously offensive, but where do we draw that line? What is a universally acceptable descriptor for a cognitively impaired person? Or a homosexual? Or a person of any race other than Caucasian? It seems no matter what we say we are potentially offending somebody.
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
Seriously though....the political correctness movement has gone way overboard. There are legitimately some words and phrases that are pretty obviously offensive, but where do we draw that line?
We draw the line at being made aware that a person finds a term offensive, and avoiding using that term with that person.
When I was growing up, mentally retarded was the accepted terminology. Now, I get chastised for it. When my Dad was growing up, the accepted term was stupid. I've found that it changes every few years. I've also noticed that different regions have different terms at different times. Where I am now, the terms used are developmentally delayed or developmentally atypical.
I would say, don't worry about what term you use, as long as you use it from either a loving or clinical viewpoint. If someone has a high offense level, I would ask them what term they would prefer.
As a mom of a special needs child, I do not like the word retarded. Seriously, it makes my stomach hurt.
I use cognitively impaired because that implies there is something wrong with my child, but it doesn't close the door on what abilities she has. The word retarded does just that. It closes the door to what she is capable of. Sort of washing your hands of the person and not delving deeper into the impairment. People think if someone is retarded they are less than human.
This probably does not make one lick of sense to anyone and unless you have a special needs person in your life, you wouldn't understand.
I could have written this post word for word. My opinion exactly and I absolutely agree that unless you have a special needs child, you wouldn't understand. Nothing to do with being PC, the word is just ugly and I have had the same opinion since long before I ever had children. I remember being in school and just cringing every time I heard someone use the term, and I am 60 years old.
if the person is in fact mentally retarded--meaning if their mental growth has been retarded, then why not ?
If its from one practitioner to another describing a patient, or trying to do a quick handoff, I really cant find a ounce of my being to care, as long as its factually accurate.
if we're going to try to spare feelings, perhaps draw the line at calling the patient retarded to/in front of them and their families ? At that point you can paint whatever pretty picture about their intellectual disabilities and yaddy yadda all you want, but from one care provider to another, just call a spade a spade and let me go about my day.
although truth be told, every now and again i am caught a bit off guard when instructors and professionals use the word retarded. it in no way offends me, im just surprised when i come across someone else that it doesn't profoundly offend or make uncomfortable
if the person is in fact mentally retarded--meaning if their mental growth has been retarded, then why not ?
If its from one practitioner to another describing a patient, or trying to do a quick handoff, I really cant find a ounce of my being to care, as long as its factually accurate.
if we're going to try to spare feelings, perhaps draw the line at calling the patient retarded to/in front of them and their families ? At that point you can paint whatever pretty picture about their intellectual disabilities and yaddy yadda all you want, but from one care provider to another, just call a spade a spade and let me go about my day.
although truth be told, every now and again i am caught a bit off guard when instructors and professionals use the word retarded. it in no way offends me, im just surprised when i come across someone else that it doesn't profoundly offend or make uncomfortable
Why not then just use their medical diagnosis or syndrome rather than the word retarded?
CP, Downs, Noonans, Autism etc....
Google the "R Word" on YouTube, you will find hundreds of videos of PSAs and videos of people and children with Special needs, describing how they feel about the "R Word"
Is it really that hard to jump on the bus and adjust your vocabulary?
Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
I feel using the word with the appropriate modifier can be fine...growth retardation, socially retarded, mental retardation, etc. using with the intent to be derogatory "you are a such a retard" "that's so retarded" is very different.
Developmental delay or disability is not always appropriate as the condition does not always manifest at birth or shortly thereafter. Intellectual disability isn't always appropriate. Learning delay, disability, difference are not always interchangeable.
Overall context and intent when utilizing descriptive terms is of paramount importance, in my opinion.
My son is on the autism spectrum. He is autistic. He didn't catch autism he was born with it. He may have bronchitis (or be a person with bronchitis for the PC crowd)
I work with medically complex/fragile children many with life altering neurological or developmental conditions. Rather than focus on impairments I choose to focus on potential. My own child is setting and meeting his own goals. Just like my mobility impaired preschool patient is kicking butt crawling and taking steps. (And the last specialist said with the utmost certainty that kiddo would be wheelchair bound for life)
I prefer to think don't keep telling them they can't because they just may surprise you. I think the quote is "No one told her she couldn't so she did it." Referring to accomplishing what others thought would be impossible. Look up Amanda Sullivan, athlete on Facebook and see potential and amazing achievements from a young woman that by all accounts should have died twice after not only being run over by one car but two. She now inspires other youth with challenges.
Lots of well-thought-out, and very thoughtfully written, posts here. I appreciate all of them; most I agree with *mostly*, as it's a very complex topic!
Nothing with this line of thinking is black and white, I guess is the lesson we can take away from it. As I said before, a term one finds useful another finds inaccurate. One finds it offensive, another sees no offense. And usually, they are NOT interchangeable, as pointed out in a previous post.
And after all is said and done, I still say that the intention with which something is said is far more important than whatever word (perfect or imperfect, depending on who is listening)....is said.
I have also heard of mental retardation referred to as "metally challenged", which really can mean a number of different things, mentally challenged such as psych issues, mentally challenged such as dementia etc. So as everyone here has already said, the bus keeps rolling!!
kbrn2002, ADN, RN
3,970 Posts
OK, now I hate you. You got that song stuck in my head!
Seriously though....the political correctness movement has gone way overboard. There are legitimately some words and phrases that are pretty obviously offensive, but where do we draw that line? What is a universally acceptable descriptor for a cognitively impaired person? Or a homosexual? Or a person of any race other than Caucasian? It seems no matter what we say we are potentially offending somebody.