Learning Disabilities Flashcards
What terms are used to describe learning difficulties
Mental retardation is still used in the ICD10
Mental handicap is used in legal terms
Intellectual or learning difficulty/disability are the most common and preferable terms to use in practice
There is a high level of comorbidity in the learning disabled population - true or false
True
Health need are often unmet and staff have poor understanding
Communication is a big area of difficulty
Does having a learning difficulty affect life expectancy
Yes
Females with a learning disability had an 18-year lower life expectancy and males had a 14 year lower life expectancy than the general population
Those with an intellectual or learning disability are 4x more likely to die of avoidable causes than the general population
What conditions are more common in those with learning difficulty
26x more likely to have epilepsy (increases as severity of LD increases)
8x more to have severe mental illness
5x more to have dementia
3x more likely to have hypothyroidism
2x more likely to have diabetes, heart failure, chronic kidney disease or stroke
Co-morbid physical disabilities and sensory deficits or hypersensitivity are more common
Higher rates of physical and sexual abuse
What learning disability is associated with Alzheimer’s
Down’s Syndrome
What is the definition of a learning disability
A condition of arrested or incomplete development of the mind, which is especially characterised by impairment of skills, manifested during the developmental period, which contribute to the overall level of intelligence
What are the criteria for learning difficulty
An IQ<70
Not a good measurement in young kids so need to retest
Developmental aetiology - < 18 years
Onset during the developmental period
Deficits in adaptive functioning (how they cope with change) and a functional impairment
How are learning difficulties diagnoses
Based on clinical findings
History
Psychometric assessment - WAIS or Stanford tests
IQ is considered
Also assess function and handicap
Assess for underlying causes - physical exam, bloods, genetics etc.
What is the average IQ of the population
100
Rising over time
How does iodine deficiency affect IQ
It can lead to learning problems
Is dyslexia a learning disability
No
This is an educational difficulty
List the severity classifications of learning disabilities
Borderline LD = IQ 70+ Mild LD = IQ 50-69 Moderate LD = IQ 35-49 Severe LD = IQ 20-34 Profound LD= IQ < 20
How does a borderline LD present
IQ range 70-84
Mental age 12 to under 15
Not a recognised category
How does a mild LD present
IQ range 50-69
Mental age 9 to 12
Most Common
Delayed speech - able to use everyday speech
Full independence – Self care, practical & domestic skills
Difficulties in Reading and Writing
Capable of unskilled or semi-skilled work
Problems if Social or Emotional Immaturity
Rarely organic aetiology
How does a moderate LD present
Mental age 6 to 9 Slow with comprehension and language Limited achievements Delayed self care and motor skills Simple practical tasks - often with supervision Usually fully mobile - physically active Majority Organic Aetiology Epilepsy & Physical Disability common
How does severe LD present
Mental age 3 to under 6
Generally more marked impairment than in moderate LD and achievements more restricted
Epilepsy very common
Will probably be able to pick this up by meeting the patient
