BBC Focus Magazine

[scott fairbrass]

Does anyone know what possible causes there are for 'Low IQ' and if having a low IQ is genetic?

I ask because i am currently looking into adopting a child whose mother has an IQ of 75 and we are eager to be able to provide appropriate support for this child.

[Jamie]

I have no idea tbh, but I think it's a rather large and complicated area, and probably quite controversial. There is a large wiki article here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heritability_of_IQ

[M Paul Lloyd]

As Jamie suggests Scott its a big and complicated subject with the actual Intelligence Quotient dependent on not just intelligence but also how it relates to age and on which type of test you use. Not everyone is good at puzzle solving but that doesn't mean that someone has a low IQ just because they get a low reading on a test that centres on such problems.

If it is of any help our youngest daughter is registered as having 'special needs' due to 'global developmental delay' which actually presents itself as 'autistic tendencies' although she is not actually autistic. Even so she struggles with reading, writing and arithmetic but with the right sort of help (she has a classroom assistant who can help her understand what is written on the board for example) she can really shine and is currently amongst the top set for science.
So she is no idiot, but if you gave her an IQ test.... well, I very much doubt she would get beyond adding her name.

By all means PM me if you want more details.

[Lateralman]

Regardless of IQ, giving an orphan a family is a wonderful thing whatever their IQ.

Having a high IQ is no guarantee of success in later life. Stick with the basics and with patience and love some of your partners and your intelligence will rub off. Good luck.

[MikeG]

If I remember well, the debate of nature vs nurture mostly supports nurture as the primary factor affecting intelligence.

[M Paul Lloyd]

A very good point MikeG.
I think that some people manage to overcome a poor upbringing/education without much help but in some cases no amount of help is going to result in everyone being brilliant. However if we can allow everyone the chance to realise their full potential, at whatever IQ level that might be, and be happy in themselves, well that has to be a good thing.

Regardless of IQ, giving an orphan a family is a wonderful thing whatever their IQ.

Having a high IQ is no guarantee of success in later life. Stick with the basics and with patience and love some of your partners and your intelligence will rub off. Good luck.

I don't think it's an actual orphan that concerns us here Lateralman, but thats a nice positive sentiment none the less.

[...]

As MPL (via Einstein) says:-

"If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life thinking it is stupid." Albert Einstein

[Lateralman]

Oops, sorry you are right. Put it down low IQ. It takes all sorts to make a world.