Search results for ‘Subject term:"learning disabilities"’ Sort:
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Abuse of the disabled child: a systematic review of population-based studies
- Authors:
- GOVINDSHENOY N., SPENCER N.
- Journal article citation:
- Child: Care, Health and Development, 33(5), September 2007, pp.552-558.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Systematic review of population-based studies published between 1966 and January 2006. Medline, Embase, Cinahl, Cochrane library, National Research Register, Social Sciences database and PsychInfo databases were searched for potentially relevant studies. Inclusion criteria: population-based cohort, case–control or cross-sectional studies of children <18 years of age that reported empirical data on the association of abuse with disability. Risk estimates were expressed as odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CI) where possible. Meta-analysis was not undertaken because of heterogeneity of studies. Four studies met the inclusion criteria. Two were longitudinal studies, one was a retrospective birth cohort and the remaining study was a cross-sectional survey. Types of disability studied varied widely as did methods used to ascertain abuse and neglect. Two studies accounted for potential confounding. Three studies reported an association between psychological and emotional disabilities and abuse. Two studies reported an association of learning disability with abuse. Only one study examined the association of physical disability (cerebral palsy) with abuse reporting an adjusted odds ratio for all forms of abuse of 1.79 (95% CI 0.96, 3.36) and for physical abuse of 3.00 (95% CI 1.29, 6.78). The evidence base for an association of disability with abuse and neglect is weak. Psychological and emotional problems, and learning difficulties appear to be associated with abuse but this association might arise because these conditions share a common aetiological pathway with abuse. There is limited evidence that physical disability predisposes to abuse.
End-of-life and palliative care for people with intellectual disabilities who have cancer or other life-limiting illness: a review of the literature and available resources
- Authors:
- TUFFREY Irene, HOGG James, CURFS Leopold
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 20(4), July 2007, pp.331-344.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This paper reviews the literature around the need of people with intellectual disabilities for palliative care. A range of databases and the World Wide Web were searched for relevant papers, book chapters, training and information materials, unpublished materials and policy guidelines. Publications from 1995 to 2005 are included. Although there has been a steady increase in published materials in recent years, research data around the palliative care needs of people with intellectual disabilities remain scarce. Case reports are the most prevalent method of exploring pertinent issues. The paper presents an overview of issues identified in the literature, with a particular focus on pain and symptom assessment, ethical issues, service planning and training needs. The authors conclude there are significant gaps in current knowledge and make recommendations for future areas of research and development.
A systematic review of cognition in homeless children and adolescents
- Authors:
- PARKS Randolph W., STEVENS Richard J., SPENCER Sean A.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 100(1), January 2007, pp.46-50.
- Publisher:
- Royal Society of Medicine
Homelessness might be hypothesised to carry many risks for the developing minds and brains of children and adolescents, and the purpose of this review was to identify whether this hypothesis has been tested. The results show that, despite the vast numbers of children and adolescents who are homeless across the world, only ten studies focusing on these populations and reporting cognitive assessments could be identified. Most of these are cross-sectional studies undertaken in the USA, and their relevance for other settings may be limited. However, they do indicate that homeless children may be more cognitively impaired than disadvantaged ones from comparable backgrounds who do have homes. The evidence on adolescents is even more limited, but also suggests a risk of cognitive impairment. The authors recommend the introduction of cognitive evaluation and brief intelligence screening for homeless children and adolescents, as well as psychiatric or psychological screening of the latter where prior physical, sexual or substance abuse is suspected.