Learning Disabilities Flashcards
What is an intellectual disability?
Condition of arrested/ incomplete development of the mind, impairment of developmental skills and overall level of intelligence.
What is the criteria for a learning disability?
- Intellectual impairment (IQ<70)
- Social adaptive dysfunction
- Onset in the developmental period before 18
What is considered social/adaptive dysfunction?
Deficits/impairments in 2 or more:
- self-care
- self-direction
- social skills
- communication
- home living
- leisure and work
- functional academics
- community use
- health and safety
What are the types of inherited causes of learning disabilities?
Single gene
Microdeletion/ duplication
Chromosomal abnormality
Types of single gene inherited causes
- Fragile X
- PKU (phenylketonuria)
- Rett’s syndrome
Types of microdeletion/duplication inherited causes
- DiGeorge
- Prader - Willi
- Angelman
Types of chromosomal abnormalities inherited causes
Down’s syndrome
What are the acquired causes of learning disabilities?
Infective
- Rubella, Zika virus
Traumatic
- Hypoxic birth injury
- Childhood head injury
Toxic
- Foetal alcohol syndrome
Idiopathic
- Most common
General health inequalities that LD individuals face?
- Social exclusion
- Socioeconomic deprivation
- Inaccessible services
- Discrimination
- Challenges to communication
- Lack of appropriate knowledge and skills of professionals
- Minimal evidence base form research
Conditions associated with learning disorders?
- Epilepsy
- Sensory impairments
- Obesity
- GI
- Resp problems
- CP
- Orthopaedic problems
- Dermatological and dental problems
Principles of psychiatric illness in people with learning disorders?
- Increased incidence of psychiatric disorders
- More severe LD, increased prevalence of psychiatric disorders
- Presentation is very different
- Lower IQ mostly present with ‘difficult behaviour’
What is the presentation of schizophrenia/psychosis in LD patients?
- Change in personality
- Self talk common in LD (hard to tell difference )
What is the presentation of mood disorders in LD patients?
Higher incidence, but less likely to complain of mood changes
What is the presentation of anxiety disorders in LD patients?
- Ritualistic behaviour and obsessional themes increased in LD
- Obsessions hard for them to describe
Trend of autism in LD?
1⁄2 of people with LD have autism
