A small average IQ drop hugely swells rates of disability and shrinks giftedness

Evidence

Using CDC data, Lanphear calculates that an average five-point drop in IQ among U.S. children would result in 3.4 million more children being intellectually disabled or mentally retarded. Simultaneously, such a seemingly small drop would reduce the number of “intellectually gifted” children by half, and double the number of children that meet the criteria for “intellectually impaired.” — Harriet A. Washington, A Terrible Thing to Waste, 427

Categorization

• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Harriet A. Washington, A Terrible Thing to Waste, 427
• XREF: connects to: Lead poisoning costs the US billions of dollars and millions of IQ points yearly — Harriet A. Washington, A Terrible Thing to Waste, 37; Pre-market chemical safety testing would save more than it costs — Harriet A. Washington, A Terrible Thing to Waste, 303; Iodine deficiency is a major unrecognized cause of lowered intelligence — Harriet A. Washington, A Terrible Thing to Waste, 21 (+6 more)

Library Connections

• Intelligence quotient significantly influences important life outcomes #corroborates (0.85)

Broader Connections

• Toxocara canis infection lowers IQ independent of socioeconomic and racial factors #exemplifies (0.75) — Harriet A. Washington, A Terrible Thing to Waste, 980
• Iodine deficiency is a major unrecognized cause of lowered intelligence #exemplifies (0.70) — Harriet A. Washington, A Terrible Thing to Waste, 21
• Policies and interventions can raise a nation’s average IQ #expands (0.70)