Learning Disabilities Flashcards
Describe the two different theories of what is intelligence.
Gardner said that there are a multitude of intelligences that are independent of each other, and each intelligence had its own strengths and constraints.
Binet said there is only a single intelligence.
Why is important to measure intelligence when diagnosing someone with a learning disability?
To make sure the right people have access to learning disability services.
Name the three ways intelligence can be measured.
1) Stanford-Binet Scale (1905, still used in US) - compared 1000s of children to develop age-level norms in intelligence
2) IQ - compares your mental age to how old you actually are (mental age/chronological age x 100)
3) Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) - developed as Stanford-Binet scale was thought to rely to heavily on language ability, WAIS includes verbal and performance subscales and requires dexterity
IQ follows a slightly negatively skewed normal distribution. Where on the graph are people with learning disabilities?
Anyone with an IQ lower than 70 (so more than 2 standard deviations below the mean) has a learning disability.
People with an IQ much below 70 have an identified pathological (i.e genetic) cause for their disability.
People with an IQ just below 70 have a more environmental cause for their learning disability so are likely to be more able.
What type of learning disability is seen at each IQ level?
IQ 50-70 = mild learning disability (person is likely to have reasonable independence so can live at home with support)
IQ 35-49 = moderate learning disability (person will generally have better receptive than expressive language)
IQ 20-34 = severe learning disability (likely to be in a wheelchair, increased sensory and motor deficits, 50% will have epilepsy)
IQ
Why might people with a learning disability be more likely to suffer mental health problems?
Decreased ability to problem solve
Fewer good relationships so more susceptible to depression
Feel a loss of control
Struggle to communicate
Have problems with finance, employment, housing
Carers are low paid and move on before properly getting to know person
More vulnerable to physical/sexual abuse
Feel undervalued, experience on demeaning hospital wards
Name some of the causes of learning disabilities.
Trauma e.g brain haemorrhage or difficult birth
Toxins e.g foetal alcohol syndrome, lead poisoning, radiation poisoning
Tumours e.g tuberous sclerosis (autosomal dominant, mutation in genes responsible for producing tuberin which halts tumour growth, can cause autism and epilepsy)
Genetic e.g Down’s syndrome (trisomy 21, can lead to hypothyroidism, leukaemia, chest infections, epilepsy, early onset dementia)
Metabolic e.g phenylketonuria (autosomal recessive gene causing absence of phenylalanine hydroxylase, causing microcephaly, epilepsy, autism, albinism, musty odour - babies screened at birth by Guthrie bacterial inhibition assay)
Infection e.g toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus, congenital syphilis, herpes (TORCH)
What was found in the report Death by Indifference?
People with learning disabilities are vulnerable to neglect in healthcare settings. They find it difficult to communicate and can become agitated so that needs like food, water, pain relief can go unmet. This is institutional discrimination.
Hospitals have a duty to make reasonable adjustments for people with learning disabilities.
What is diagnostic overshadowing?
A change in behaviour is just put down to someone’s learning disability, when in actual fact they are trying to express that they are in pain etc.
(Overlooking a diagnosable condition because the focus is on a person’s mental disorder)
What services are available to support people with learning disabilities?
GP General Hospital Liaison nurse Community Learning Disabilities Team (secondary care) Inpatient services Wilf Ward Family Trust Mencap Advocacy e.g to prevent people taking financial advantage Respite
Who is included in the Multidisciplinary Community Learning Disability Team?
Care Managers (social workers) Receptionist Psychologist Secretaries Speech and Language Therapist Physiotherapist Community Nurse Psychiatrist Occupational Therapist
In the multidisciplinary team, what is the role of the psychiatrist?
Diagnose and treat any mental health problems e.g depression, dementia
Assess the risk posed to themselves or others e.g sex offenders
Offer advice on medication
In the multidisciplinary team, what is the role of the community nurse?
Review medications to see if they are having the desired effect/bad side effects
Offer support and advice on mental and physical health
Advise on the importance of health screening and health promotion
Support for epilepsy and seizures
Talk about stress
Help accessing physical health checks
In the multidisciplinary team, what is the role of the speech and language therapist?
Look at total communication, and help people express their needs, wants, feelings
Use signing, communication books, pictures and symbols
Look at how much people understand (helps in deciding if they have capacity)
Look at people’s eating, drinking and swallowing skills
In the multidisciplinary team, what is the role of the psychologist?
Help people to deal with changes e.g someone dying, moving house, forming relationships
