Learning disabilities Flashcards
How can the degree of learning disabilities be classified?
Learning disability occurs below 70 IQ
- Mild: 50-69
- Moderate: 35-49
- Severe: 20-34
- Profound: below 20
What are the main components of learning disabilities?
- Low cognitive ability (below 70 IQ)
- Diminished social or adaptive functioning
- Onset in childhood
Describe the typical presentation of learning disabilities
- Poor performance on tasks
- eg. learning, short-term memory, problem solving
- Association with specific congenital syndromes
- eg. Down’s syndrome, Fragile X syndrome
- Challenging behaviour
State five causes of learning disabilities
- Genetic: Down’s syndrome, fragile X syndrome, Turner syndrome
- Metabolic: PKU, galactosaemia
- Structural: tuberous sclerosis, familial hydrocephalus, neurofibromatosis
- Intrauterine: malnutrition, congenital infection
- Perinatal: pre-eclampsia, antepartum haemorrhage, premature labour
- Neonatal: IVH, meningitis, severe neonatal jaundice
- Postnatal: trauma, infection, anoxis, hypothyroidism, malnutrition
- Drugs: alcohol, phenytoin
What skills may be impaired in someone with a learning disability?
- Cognition
- Language
- Motor skills
- Social skills
Differentiate between impairment, disability, and handicap
- Impairment: Any loss/abnormality of psychological, physiological or anatomical structure or function.
- Disability: Any restriction/lack of ability to perform an action in a normal manner or range.
- Handicap: A disadvantage for a given individual, resulting from impairment or disability that limits/prevents the normal fulfilment of a role.
List three physical associated problems of learning disabilities
- Motor and mobility problems
- Speech, hearing and visual impairment
- Epilepsy
- Urinary and faecal incontinence
- Increased risk of obesity and fractures
- Poor oral health
- Poor diet, constipation, GORD
- Sleep disorders
- Premature death
Name 3 common comorbid psychiatric disorders seen in people with learning disabilities
- Schizophrenia
- Anxiety disorders
- Depressive disorders
- Bipolar affective disorder
- Personality disorders
- Early-onset dementia
- Autism
- ADHD
How does schizophrenia present differently in people with learning disabilities?
- Prevalence is 3x greater
- Earlier age of onset (23yr)
- More commonly associated with epilepsy, negative symptoms, and impaired episodic memory
What additional symptoms may present in schizophrenia of severe learning disability?
- Unexplained aggression
- Bizarre behaviour
- Mood lability
- Increased mannerisms and stereotypes
How does bipolar affective disorder present differently in people with Learning disabilities?
- Prevalence is greater (2-12%)
- More difficult to diagnose if severe LD also present
How does depressive disorder present differently in people with Learning disabilities?
- Commonly missed
- More marked biological features, with diurnal variation
- Suicidal ideation is less frequent in severe LD
List five associated behavioural problems alongside learning disabilities
- Difficulty accessing care and support
- Poor self-care: hygiene, diet, exercise, physical and mental health
- Lack of supportive social network
- Lack of regular employment and income
- Boredom
- Harmless behaviour interpreted as aggression
- Temper tantrums
- Criminal activity due to challenging behaviour or misunderstanding
- Challenging behaviour
- Communication difficulties, ASD, sensory impairment
What types of behavioural disorders are seen in the LD population?
- Aggression and antisocial
- Social withdrawal
- Stereotypic behaviours
- Hyperactive disruptive behaviours
- Repetitive communication disturbance
- Anxiety/fearfulness
Name 3 interventions can be used in behavioural disorders
- Educational and social intervention
- Facilitating communicate needs - e.g. hearing aid
- Behavioural intervention - reinforcement
- Psychotherapy
- Pharmacological treatment for comorbidities
- Physical intervention - protect individual and others
