Mental age

Mental age refers to the level of cognitive ability or intellectual functioning that an individual exhibits, as compared to the average abilities of others at different chronological ages. For example, if a 10-year-old child has the problem-solving skills typical of an 8-year-old, their mental age would be considered 8. This concept is often used in psychology and education to assess developmental progress, identify learning challenges, and tailor instructional methods, highlighting that intelligence and learning can vary widely among individuals, regardless of their actual age.