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Challenging behaviour and associated risk factors: an overview (part I)
- Authors:
- KORITSAS Stella, IACONO Teresa
- Journal article citation:
- Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities, 6(4), 2012, pp.199-214.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
This review, the first in a two-part series, explores challenging behaviour in adults, its prevalence, risk factors and causes. It aims to provide an overview of prevalence studies and explore the various risk factors that have been associated with challenging behaviour. The authors also seek to explore methodological differences across studies that may contribute to the prevalence variations reported in the literature. The article summarises the findings from frequently cited prevalence studies as well as more recent studies. The prevalence of challenging behaviour reported in the literature has varied due to methodological differences across studies. Despite this, the best estimate is believed to be from 15 to 17.5 per cent. A range of factors have been associated with challenging behaviour and include gender, age, severity of disability and residential setting.
Estimating the prevalence of autism spectrum conditions in adults: extending the 2007 adult psychiatric morbidity survey
- Authors:
- BRUGHA T., et al
- Publisher:
- NHS Information Centre
- Publication year:
- 2012
- Pagination:
- 31p.
- Place of publication:
- London
This report extends the 2007 Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey. The original data has been combined with data from a new study of the prevalence of autism among adults with learning disabilities living in private households and communal care establishments in Leicestershire, Lambeth and Sheffield. For this latter study, 290 adults were recruited resulting in 83 interviews with those living in private households. Sixty four per cent of communal care establishments approached took part in the study leading to 207 interviews. The overall prevalence of autism from the combined data was 1.1 per cent. The prevalence of autism was higher in men (2.0 per cent) than women (0.3 per cent). The learning disability study demonstrated that the prevalence of autism increased with greater severity of learning disability/lower verbal IQ. Sex differences were less marked in adults with learning disabilities compared with the general population. The estimated prevalence of autism changed very little when the data were re-analysed to take into account that the prevalence of autism might be higher or lower in other settings, such as prisons. This study has demonstrated that autism is common among people with a learning disability. Taking this into account gives an estimated overall prevalence of autism in England of 1.1 per cent; compared with a previous estimate of 1.0 per cent in the APMS (2007).
Getting good support: report of a survey
- Authors:
- PONTING Lisa, et al
- Publisher:
- Norah Fry Research Centre
- Publication year:
- 2010
- Pagination:
- 9p.
- Place of publication:
- Bristol
This is an easy-read summary of a report of a survey of people with learning disabilities who get one to one support from a personal assistant. The survey was completed and return by 59 people, most of whom had a direct payment.
The practical implication of comparing how adults with and without intellectual disability respond to music
- Authors:
- HOOPER Jeff, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 39(1), March 2011, pp.22-28.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Arousal is described as ‘a condition conceived to vary in a continuum from a low point in sleep to a high point in extreme or intense excitement’. An aroused person is generally wide awake and alert, and someone who is unaroused is sleepy or relaxed. Previous researchers who compared how people with, and without, an intellectual disability respond to music focused on musical aptitude, but not on arousal. This paper presents the background, methodology, and results of a study that selected fifteen different pieces of music, and compared the arousal response of 48 adults with, and 48 without, an intellectual disability. Findings revealed a very strong and significant positive correlation, which implies that music, identified as sedative by individuals who do not have an intellectual disability, can be used appropriately in an intervention predicated for lowering the arousal levels of those with learning disabilities.
Skills for support: personal assistants and people with learning disabilities
- Authors:
- WILLIAMS Val, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 38(1), March 2010, pp.59-67.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
For people with learning disabilities to have control over their lives, the quality of their support staff matters. This paper reports on an inclusive research study, which used video analysis to study the communication skills of personal assistants (PAs) who worked with people with learning disabilities. The findings reveal some of the fine detail in the strategies these PAs used, to show respect, support choices, and give advice. They were able to step back, to listen and observe the person with learning disabilities, and to use good, open body language. They also gave people time, built up a close relationship based on shared interests and activities, and they talked with people in a friendly, adult way. It is difficult to support people to manage their lives, and team work is important. People with learning disabilities also have to play their role in the relationship. This research produced training materials that will help people with learning disabilities to train and support their own PAs.
Activities for adults with learning disabilities having fun, meeting needs
- Authors:
- SONNET Helen, TAYLOR Ann
- Publisher:
- Jessica Kingsley
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 159p.
- Place of publication:
- London
This is a reference book for professionals and volunteers working with adults with learning difficulties, which provides a workable programme of creative ideas for over 60 sessions of fun and engaging activities. While some of the ideas will be similar to those more pictorially demonstrated in children’s activity books the needs of adults with learning disabilities, whose adult feelings are to be respected, are served. This book is divided into 7 sections describing similar events, each with some general information, tips and hints relating to the activities that follow. Sections covering cooking, arts and crafts, party games, general games, special occasions, drama and dance and outside events are included. Each individual activity starts with specific coded information which, on consulting a key, reveals whether this activity is suitable for wheelchair users, the level of assistance required, levels of noise and mess which will be created, how much reading skill will be required by the users and highlights health and safety issues. This book is written for use in clubs, day-centres, and supported living homes and has been tested by the authors on 16-80 year old adults, with mixed mental and physical abilities in Gateway clubs in the United Kingdom.
Survey outcomes and cross-national comparisons of quality of life with respect to people with intellectual disabilities in Taiwan
- Authors:
- CHOU Yueh-Ching, SCHALOCK Robert
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 6(1), March 2009, pp.7-10.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This study assessed how Taiwanese adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) experience their quality of life (QoL), including comparisons with their counterparts in other countries. The study involved administering the Cross-Cultural QoL Indicators Survey and the Quality of Life Questionnaire in 2004 and 2005 to a total of 481 adults with ID who either were living with their family or residing within a facility. Results indicated that the domain of "social inclusion" was the lowest for both adults using residential services or living with family. In addition, Taiwanese residents with ID have lower levels of overall QoL, particularly among those living in institutions; although they were easily satisfied with their lives, compared with their counterparts in other countries. The authors recommend that the improvement of QoL among persons with ID in Taiwan must not be ignored by the policy makers, practitioners, and their families, particularly with respect to enabling individuals with ID to be more included in society.
Physical mobility limitations in adults with intellectual disabilities: a systematic review
- Authors:
- CLEAVER S., HUNTER D., OUELLETTE-KUNTZ H.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 53(2), February 2009, pp.93-105.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The specific aim of this study was to identify and summarise primary literature investigating mobility limitations in adults with ID. This study was a systematic review of the epidemiological literature (incidence and prevalence) of mobility limitations among adults with ID. Four electronic databases were searched from January 1980 to May 2007 for publications according to predefined inclusion/exclusion criteria. Additional sources were consulted. Two reviewers extracted data from each of the included articles. Thirty-two publications representing 31 studies were ultimately included. In general, studies did not focus on mobility but were conducted for other purposes. All studies were conducted in industrialised countries. Only one study used a longitudinal design; the remainders were cross-sectional. Few investigators reported on the representativeness of the sample or the validity of the measurement tool. Study samples differed substantially and investigators used numerous definitions of mobility limiting comparability between studies. There is a need for increased research on mobility limitations among adults with ID, particularly longitudinal research. Researchers investigating mobility limitations should use validated measurement tools and offer detailed descriptions of the study sample and how it compares with an identifiable population.
The prevalence and determinants of obesity in adults with intellectual disabilities
- Authors:
- MELVILLE C.A., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 21(5), September 2008, pp.425-437.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This was a cross-sectional study of all adults with intellectual disabilities, in a defined geographical area of Scotland, in the context of a primary care health screening programme. A total of 945 adults with intellectual disabilities were involved, all of whom were living in the community. Body mass index (BMI), demographic characteristics, socio-economic deprivation, level of intellectual disabilities and various health parameters were measured. Overall, 39.3% of women and 27.8% of men were obese, compared with 25.1% of women and 22.7% of men in the comparison general population. The mean BMI of women with intellectual disabilities was significantly greater than the mean BMI of men with intellectual disabilities, and women were more likely to be obese than men with intellectual disabilities. Regression analyses showed that for both women and men, the risk of overweight and obesity reduced as the severity of intellectual disabilities increased, and Down syndrome was associated with an increased risk of overweight and obesity. There is a need to carry out research to further our understanding of the reasons behind the increased prevalence of obesity in adults with intellectual disabilities. Effective weight management interventions and accessible clinical services are required to reduce the health inequalities experienced by adults with intellectual disabilities.
Food on film: pilot test of an innovative method for recording food intake of adults with intellectual disabilities living in the community
- Authors:
- HUMPHRIES Kathleen, TRACI Meg Ann, SEEKINS Tom
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 21(1), March 2008, pp.168-173.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities need dietary monitoring but are not likely to be able to provide accurate dietary intake data via traditional methods. An American pilot study which aimed to meet their support needs with a novel and practical approach to dietary intake data collection are described in this brief report. Still photography kits were used by nine adult volunteer participants with intellectual disabilities who lived in group homes or in semi-independent living arrangements to capture images of the food they consumed over 24 h. Use of photographs during dietary intake interviews improved the reliability of the participants’ responses. Mean reliability ratings improved from ‘Indiscernible/Poor’ (mean range 1.0–1.7) to ‘Good/Excellent’ (mean range 3.6–5.0). The preliminary data imply that Food on Film is an effective and appropriate tool for use in community settings and warrants further testing.