Borderline Intellectual Functioning
Understanding the Diagnosis and Its Impacts
Learn about Borderline Intellectual Functioning and its effects on education, employment, and social interactions. Discover how Serin Center can provide guidance and support for those with BIF.
Borderline Intellectual Functioning
Understanding the Diagnosis and Its Impacts
Borderline Intellectual Functioning (BIF) is a term used to describe individuals who have cognitive abilities that are just below the average range, but not low enough to be classified as an intellectual disability. People with BIF may face challenges in many areas of their lives, including education, employment, and social interactions.
Here are seven key points to understand about BIF:
BIF is not a clinical diagnosis, but rather a term used to describe individuals who have an IQ score between 71 and 84.
People with BIF may have difficulty with problem-solving, decision-making, and abstract thinking.
BIF is often diagnosed in childhood, but can also be diagnosed in adulthood.
Individuals with BIF may struggle with academic achievement, including reading, writing, and math.
Social interactions can also be challenging for people with BIF, as they may have difficulty understanding social cues and maintaining relationships.
Employment opportunities may be limited for individuals with BIF, as they may have difficulty with tasks that require problem-solving or abstract thinking.
While there is no cure for BIF, therapy and support can help individuals with the condition develop strategies for understanding their challenges and achieving their goals.
Approximately 13.6% of the population falls in the borderline range of intellectual functioning.1
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with BIF, it is important to seek support and resources to help navigate the challenges that may arise. At Serin Center, our team of experienced therapists and specialists can provide the guidance and assistance needed to manage the impacts of BIF and achieve success in all areas of life.
Children with borderline intellectual functioning are likely to exhibit more difficulties with:
These children tend to have less theory of mind abilities, meaning the ability to recognize or understand another person’s mental beliefs, attitudes, or thoughts 2. Often those with borderline intellectual functioning are deemed to have too high of an IQ to receive special services in school; however, additional services are often needed to help improve overall functioning and improve quality of life.
In our experience, children who are struggling in school have been tested but the importance of IQ is not addressed and these children often don’t fall within categories that receive services, such as specific learning disabilities,
- Wieland, J., & Zitman, F. G. (2016). It is time to bring borderline intellectual functioning back into the main fold of classification systems. BJPsych Bulletin, 40(4), 204–206. http://doi.org/10.1192/pb.bp.115.051490
- Baglio, G., Blasi, V., Sangiuliana, F., Castelli, I., Massaro, D., Baglio, F., Valle, A., Zanette, M., & Marchetti, A. (2016). Social competence in children with borderline intellectual functioning: Delayed development of theory of mind across all complexity levels. Frontiers in Psychology, 7, 1-10. Doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01604
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