W5: Intellectual Disability

Question 1

Define intellectual disability

Answer 1

- Limitation in intellectual & adaptive  functioning: 
> reasoning 
> problem solving 
> planning 
> learning 

> social skills
practical skills

Question 2

What is important in assessment and intervention of intellectual disabilities?

Answer 2

• There is limited standardised assessments that capture the person’s abilities
• THEREFORE observation and information gathering skills are critical

Question 3

How can OTs better get to know a person with a long term disability?

Answer 3

• Listen to personal stories
• Observe life experience
• Increase awareness of non-verbal communication
• Uncover individual values and preferences

Question 4

How can OTs find out more about skills, abilities and interests of a person with an intellectual disability?

Answer 4

• Avoid making assumptions
• Use observation and discussion to gather information
• Use and support their communication system
• Ensure that they are aware of sensory or motor challenges that may impact how they interact with their environment
• Understand their context

Question 5

What is dual disadvantage?

Answer 5

A person with a disability is also from a culturally linguistically diverse background or is living in a remote area

Question 6

What is the developmental approach?

Answer 6

• Learning doesn’t stop - people can learn and develop

Question 7

What are complex communication needs?

Answer 7

• People with disabilities who have severe speech and language impairments

Question 8

Principles of good practice in communication support

Answer 8

People with CCN have:

• the right to acces information that affects their lives and allows particiaption in decision making
• the same rights to privacy

Question 9

Principles of good practice in communication support

Answer 9

• Maximise person’s ability to participate in everyday life
• Address person’s current communication in all environments
• Access multiple methods of communication to increase effectiveness

Question 10

What is augmentative and alternative communication?

Answer 10

All communication that is not speech but enhances or replaces it

Question 11

What is augmentative communication?

Answer 11

Strategies designed to SUPPORT a person’s speech

Question 12

What is alternative communication?

Answer 12

Strategies designed to REPLACE speech

Question 13

What are the core communication skills?

Answer 13

• Identify or develop a method to initiate communication
• Develop an intelligile ‘yes/no’
• Supportive communication partner

Question 14

General communication tips

Answer 14

• Respond to gestures
• Keep language simple
• Speak at a moderate rate
• IMPORTANCE OF WAITING
• Ask open questions
• Check understanding
• Use of verbal and non-verbal prompts

Question 15

OT role in supporting communication

Answer 15

• Good communication partner
• Help identify personal, environmental and task factors that may impact on communication
• Advice re a person’s communication system
• Use of preferred communication system