Adolescence in DD/LD Flashcards
Describe adolescence in DD/LD (2)
- A time of rapid physical, emotional and sexual development
- Most experience a physically ‘typical’ puberty
What are the emotional aspects of puberty that can be challenging for people with DD/LD? (2)
- Starting to look different from their peers
2. Understanding the processes of sexuality and bodily changes
Summarise the challenges for an individual who does not experience adolescence in the typical way
- Cognitive ability to manage changes
- The internal and external changes may have different consequences
- Additional changes/challenges for specific populations
- Demands vs capacities
- Language
What are 2 difficulties that people with DD/LD may have in understanding developmental changes?
- Understanding physical changes
2. Understanding and acting upon sexual thoughts and feelings
Give an example of a difficulty in understanding/adjusting to physical changes
Fairbairn et al (1995)
Female clients with MLD - menstruation demands a lot of independence and understand as a normal process
Give examples of difficulties in understanding sexual feelings/thoughts
- “Social communication” difficulties and differences in self-perception in ASD
- Sexual behaviour in “public” eg. posting pictures online
Summarise the internal factors of adolescence in people with LD/DD (3)
- Most experience biological process of puberty
- Some populations - specific changes in “symptomatology”
- Some populations - new difficulties arising from developmental delay
Give examples of syndromes which do not experience the typical process of puberty
- Turner syndrome
- Noonan syndrome
- Klinefelter’s
What is Turner syndrome?
- A chromosomal disorder affecting females
2. May not experience puberty at same rate and onset as others
Give examples of populations that experience specific changes in symptomatology
- Fragile X
- Tourette’s
- ADHD
Describe the changes in symptomatology of Fragile X
Characteristic physical phenotype becomes more apparent (Rittey, 2003)
Describe the changes in symptomatology of Tourette’s
Lessening of symptoms in some following puberty (Walker, 2002) thought to be due to hormonal changes
Describe the changes in symptomatology of ADHD (3)
- Less hyperactivity
- Continued difficulties with inattentiveness and impulsivity (Barkley, 1998)
- Increases likelihood of engaging in risky behaviour eg. drugs, crime
What new difficulties may be experienced by some populations? (2)
- General moderate learning difficulties - display lack of pragmatic/social competence towards peers (Dudley-Marling, 1985)
- Down’s syndrome: over-friendliness can increase vulnerability, language development plateaus towards late childhood (Carr, 2001)
Summarise the external factors of adolescence in DD/LD (4)
- School system eg. mainstream/special school and related social issues
- Fewer friends
- More contact with progressionals
- Symbologically stigmatised by medical model