Learning Disability

Question 1

What are the diagnostic criteria for LDs?

Answer 1

IQ <70
Onset <18 years old
Loss of adaptive social functioning
Range from mild (IQ 50-69), moderate (35-49), severe (20-34) and profound (<20)

Question 2

What are some possible causes of LDs?

Answer 2

Prenatal - maternal drug / alcohol use, genetic / congenital
Perinatal - hypoxia, obstetric complications, prematurity
Postnatal - illnesses, injury, environmental conditions eg lead poisoning
Multiple

Question 3

What are the significant characteristics of someone with Downs’ Syndrome?

Answer 3

Hypotonia
Abnormalities of internal organs eg ASD, VSD
Chest infections
Alzheimer’s dementia

Question 4

What are the key features of foetal alcohol syndrome?

Answer 4

Only 25-30% have LD
3 core features:
1. Growth retardation
2. Facial features (indistinct philtrum, lower nasal bridge, thin upper lip)
3. CNS dysfunction (affect dysregulation, behaviour difficulties)

Question 5

What are the common features of Fragile X syndrome?

Answer 5

Delayed motor milestones, speech and language delay
Autism-like traits
Hyperactivity, cocktail party speech
Facial features - prominent forehead, prominent jaw, narrow face, long ears