Learning Disability/Intelectual Disability

Question 1

What is a learning disability, beginning to be called an intellectual disability?

1 - an individual does not develop social skills and becomes withdrawn
2 - an individual with limits to a their ability to learn at an expected level and function in daily life
3 - an individual who has difficulty concentrating and can become restless
4 - an individual with a congenital abnormality

Answer 1

2 - an individual with limits to a their ability to learn at an expected level and function in daily life

Question 2

A learning disability, beginning to be called an intellectual disability is an individual with limits to a their ability to learn at an expected level and function in daily life. What is the incidence of this?

1 - 0.23%
2 - 2.3%
3 - 23%
4 - 50%

Answer 2

2 - 2.3%

• approx 1.6 million in the UK
• 85-90% are Mild
• 10% are Moderate
• 2-5% are Severe/Profound

Question 3

There are varying severities of intellectual disability (ID), mild, moderate and severe. Which of these is most common?

Answer 3

• 85-90% are Mild
• by far the most common
• 10% are Moderate
• 2-5% are Severe/Profound

Question 4

A learning disability (LD), beginning to be called an intellectual disability is an individual with limits to a their ability to learn at an expected level and function in daily life. Which of the following facts are TRUE?

1 - individuals with a LD have greater physical health needs
2 - individuals with a LD have greater mental health needs
3 - individuals with a LD have higher mortality
4 - individuals with a LD are harder to manage and manage
5 - all of the above

Answer 4

5 - all of the above

• typically these patients receive poor mental and physical health treatment

Question 5

Are learning difficulties and learning disability the same?

Answer 5

• no
• difficulty = a specific task or aspect of learning (dyslexia)
• disability = individual with limits to a their ability to learn at an expected level and function in daily life.

Question 6

The following criteria are what is used to diagnose intellectual disability (ID). How many of the following are needed to make a diagnose of ID?

1 - Significant impairment in intellectual functioning
2. Significant impairment(s) in adaptive functioning (ability to adapt to demands of ADLs)
3. Intellectual and adaptive functioning impairment have been present from the developmental period (<18 y/o)

Answer 6

• all 3
• <2 SD below the mean of standardised testing for IQ tests (essentially they must score less than the norms)
• light blue in the figure
• mean is IQ of 100

Question 7

To be diagnosed with an intellectual disability (ID), patients need to have a significant impairment(s) in adaptive functioning (ability to adapt to demands of ADLs). Which of the following is NOT an aspect of adaptive functioning?

1 - Conceptual = using numbers, money, time, memory, reading, writing
2 - Activity = physical activity and exercise
3 - Social = communication skills, understanding and following social rules and customs
4 - Practical = feeding, dressing, bathing, travel, preparing food, cleaning, laundry

Answer 7

2 - Activity = physical activity and exercise

• in IP patients they need at least 1 of these 3 domains

Question 8

To be diagnosed with an intellectual disability the impaired intellectual and adaptive functioning impairment must have been present from the developmental period (<18 y/o). Can this be acquired in adult life though?

Answer 8

• no
• brain injury or mental illness are different

Question 9

What is the most common genetic cause for intellectual disability?

1 - down syndrome
2 - edwards syndrome
3 - patau syndrome
4 - pradar willi

Answer 9

1 - down syndrome
- extra chromosome 21

Question 10

Which of the following are causes of intellectual dissabilities?

1 - genetics
2 - birth complications such as hypoxia
3 - drugs and Alcohol – fetal alcohol syndrome
4 - infections e.g. measles, rubella
5 - trauma
6 - endocrine –e.g. congenital hypothyroidism
7 - nutritional
8 - all of the above

Answer 10

8 - all of the above

• BUT mild causes are generally idiopathic

Question 11

Which of the following are common comorbidities of intellectual disabilities?

1 - Epilepsy
2 - Cardiovascular problems
3 - Mobility problems
4 - Sensory problems
5 - Genetic syndromes
6 - mental health problems (e.g. dementia, ADHD, autism)
7 - all of the above

Answer 11

7 - all of the above

• very difficult to diagnose and treat

Question 12

Are patients with intellectual disabilities challenging?

Answer 12

• yes can be
• associated with significant risk to themselves and others

Question 13

Do patients with intellectual disabilities (ID) have a higher prevalence of mental disorders than the general public?

Answer 13

• yes
• BUT harder to diagnose in ID patients

Question 14

Do all patients with intellectual disabilities (ID) have autism spectrum disorders (ASD)?

Answer 14

• no
• BUT a large proportion of patients with ASD have ID

Question 15

Which 2 of the following are the key reasons it is so difficult to diagnose patients with intellectual disabilities (ID)?

1 - age
2 - comorbidities
3 - poor communication skills
4 - lack of empathy

Answer 15

2 - comorbidities
- diagnosis can often be confusing

3 - poor communication skills
- mainly verbal

Question 16

Patients with intellectual disabilities (ID) have atypical symptoms. Which of the follow are examples of atypical presentations?

1 - no mention of guilt in depression
2 - varied delusion’s
3 - loss of skills (communicating)
4 - challenging behaviours (aggression)
5 - all of the above

Answer 16

5 - all of the above

Question 17

What is diagnostic overshadowing?

1 - superior changes your diagnosis
2 - patient does not agree with the diagnosis
3 - everything is attributed to the diagnosis given
4 - lack of diagnosis

Answer 17

3 - everything is attributed to the diagnosis given

• this can cause other coexisting conditions to go undiagnosed
• for example patients with intellectual disability (ID) may not have physical illness diagnosed because of their ID