Abstract
In the assessment of Mental Retardation some main problem remain to be solved. The first one attains to the different criteria proposed as diagnostic standards by the international Associations (e.g., ICD, DSM). Another problem arises when the evaluation of the IQ derived by the Wechsler’s Scales is not possible due to disabled persons’ difficulty in verbal comprehension or verbal response, and/or lack of the basic abilities needed for the performance in the test. In these cases alternative instruments have to be used for the assessment, i.e. different scales of intelligence or development, but the scores are not comparable with Wechsler’s IQs, requested by the international criteria. The third problem relevant for the diagnosis of Mental Retardation is the need to include an index of adjustment level to integrate the cognitive one. How this integration could be made in a standard way, beyond the clinical nonstandard evaluation? The study presented here was aimed to obtain: 1) the best estimate of the Wechsler IQ starting from the scores of four alternative tests, i.e.: Raven’s Coloured Progressive Matrices test (CPM), Leiter International Performance Scale (LIPS-R), Griffiths’ Mental Development Scale (MDS), and Schopler’s Psychoeducational Profile (PEP-III); 2) a parameter to integrate IQ with the standard scores obtained by means of Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale (VABS), the most used test to assess the adaptive level, with a standardization suitable for persons with Intellectual Disability. The cognitive tests, including Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children to obtain the WISC-IQ for the comparison, were administered to a sample of 35 persons with Intellectual Disability, age 76-508 months, mean age 210 months. For these persons the specialized caregivers made the assessment of the adjustment on the VABS. In the paper will be presented the correlation among the cognitive test, the regression of the VABS scores on the IQs (confirming that cognitive and adaptive scores are somewhat independent), the best estimates of IQ starting from other cognitive test scores (using an Artificial Neural Network method). The algorithm based on the estimates obtained through the neural network was included in a software suitable to the conversion of the cognitive test scores into Wechsler IQ. A composite index integrating IQs and Adjustment scores (derived from VABS Communication and Socialization scales) is proposed to obtain a standard evaluation of the Mental Retardation level according to the international criteria. This composite index will be tested extensively in further research.

Abstract
Synthesis of the theses presented for the Master “Assessment and intervention in Intellectual Disabilities”