Learning disabilities

Question 1

What is intellectual disability?

Answer 1

Refers to a group of disorders (mostly neurological) that affects the brain’s ability to receive, process, store and respond to information. Affects an individual’s ability to acquire basic academic skills

Question 2

Causes of intellectual disability

Answer 2

Most causes are unknown. Foetal alcohol syndrome is the most common

Pre-natal (Down’s syndrome)

Peri-natal (lack of O2 linked to cerebral palsy)

Post-natal (range of developmental disorders, ASD, ADHD)

Question 3

Discriminating features of foetal alcohol syndrome

Answer 3

Flat midface

Short nose

indistinct philtrum

Thin upper lip

Question 4

Social determinants and ID

Answer 4

People with mild ID are more likely to live in socially deprived areas - therefore exposed to poorer housing conditions, unemployment, social exclusion and discrimination.

Increased risk of poorer health, poorer mental health in children and behavioural disorders

Question 5

Health conditions and ID

Answer 5

ID is a permanent disability affecting the person throughout the lifespan.

Life expectancy is significantly less than the general pop.

Several co-morbidies are more common in this group e.g. epilepsy, mobility, hearing impairment, visual problems, CHD, respiratory disease, diabetes, obesity.

Genetic syndromes can cause ID (Down’s prader-willi, lesch nyhan)

Question 6

Secondary health conditions common in people with ID

Answer 6

Obesity

Oral problems (unhealthy gums/teeth)

Constipation

GORD (undetected)

Dysphagia

Osteoporosis

H. pylori

Question 7

Difficulties in access to healthcare in people with ID

Answer 7

Failure to make resonable adjustments to healthcare due to literacy and communication difficulties

Variable ability of interpreters for people from ethnic minorities

‘Diagnostic overshadowing’ - symptoms of physica and mental ill health attributed to ID

Predjudice attitudes among healthcare staff

8/10 hospital admissions for people with ID are preventable.

Question 8

Issues with communication and consent in a patient with a ID

Answer 8

May be a mismatch between verbal communication and comprehension

Delayed cognitive processing

May lack capacity to give consent

Communication difficulties can lead to misunderstanding