Search results for ‘Subject term:"learning disabilities"’ Sort:
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Specific disorders and your child's behaviour: a parent's guide to behavioural phenotypes
- Authors:
- BARNETT Diane, TURK Jeremy
- Publisher:
- Contact a Family
- Publication year:
- 2003
- Pagination:
- 8p.
- Place of publication:
- London
'Behavioural phenotype' is a medical term which describes behaviour associated with specific disorders, particularly those which lead to learning disabilities. These disorders may result from a genetic or other biological cause e.g. an infection early in life. These behaviours may include: common challenging behaviours: emotional and temperamental tendencies; learning disability; and increased likelihood of psychiatric and psychological difficulties. Knowing the cause of the child's condition and the reason for his or her behaviour can be helpful. Sometimes, a pattern of behaviour may be suggestive of the presence of an underlying genetic cause. Not all behavioural difficulties originate in a genetic disorder. They may have other causes such as family stresses and relationships, conduct disorders and oppositional defiant disorder.
A positive behaviour support: a preliminary evaluation of a school-wide plan for implementing AAC in a school for students with intellectual disabilities
- Author:
- HETZRONI Orit E.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 28(3), September 2003, pp.283-296.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This study investigates the effectiveness of an augmentative and alternative communication intervention as part of a school-wide positive behaviour support plan for enhancing the communication behaviours and reducing behavioural problems of students with intellectual disabilities in Israel. An inventory was administered to evaluate differences in communciation behaviours and behavioural problems before and after intervention. The study found communication behaviours increased and problem behaviours decreased significantly. Discusses directions for future research in the context of positive support plans and alternative communication.
Jurors' perception of witnesses with intellectual disabilities and the influence of expert evidence
- Authors:
- STOBBS Georgina, KEBBELL Mark Rhys
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 16(2), June 2003, pp.107-114.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The aim of this study was to assess mock-jurors' perceptions of the evidence of witnesses with intellectual disabilities either with or without expert evidence and in comparison with witnesses from the general population. Sixty participants read transcripts of a mock trial focusing on the testimony of an eyewitness. Participants were assigned to one of three groups. The first was told that the witness was a person from the general population. The second was told that the witness had mild learning disabilities. The third group was told that the witness had mild learning disabilities and was given expert evidence concerning his abilities. While mock-jurors perceive witnesses with learning disabilities to be fundamentally honest, they are reluctant to rely on the evidence provided by witnesses with learning disabilities. Expert evidence can go some way to ameliorating the negative perceptions of the reliability of witnesses with learning disabilities. Expert evidence can provide jurors with a certain degree of insight and understanding of an individual witness with intellectual disabilities that potentially increases the likelihood of achieving justice.
Creating a responsive environment: for people with profound and multiple learning difficulties
- Author:
- WARE Jean
- Publisher:
- David Fulton
- Publication year:
- 2003
- Pagination:
- 136p.,bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- London
- Edition:
- 2nd
This revised and updated second edition aims to enable teachers and care staff working with people with PMLD in any context to create a positive interactive environment for the people with whom they work. Using information from research and from everyday practice, the author discusses the different aspects of a responsive environment and suggests practical strategies that staff can use to create such an atmosphere.
Behavioural and family systems interventions in developmental disability: towards a contemporary and integrative approach
- Author:
- RHODES Paul
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 28(1), March 2003, pp.51-64.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
While behavioural intervention is effective in the treatment of challenging behaviour, in developmental disability it can have significant limitations in the family setting. Families can sometimes find it difficult to make lifecycle transitions or respond to other stressful life events and become stuck in patterns of interaction that include the presenting behaviour. The aim of this paper is to present a theoretical and working model of intervention that integrates more contemporary behavioural and systemic orientations. Four stages for intervention are provided, each consisting of practical guidelines for the clinician. Three detailed case studies are also included.
Self-appraised lifestyle satisfaction of persons with intellectual disability: the impact of personal characteristics and community residential facilities
- Author:
- SCHWARTZ Chaya
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 28(3), September 2003, pp.227-240.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This study interviewed a total of 247 adults with intellectual disability from residents group homes, semi-independent and independent apartments in the community in Israel using the lifestyle satisfaction scale. Results found that residents personal and behavioural characteristics explained more of the variance of total lifestyle than the living arrangement. Among personal and behavioural variables, only need for mobility assistance and level of challenging behaviour predicted lifestyle satisfaction. Living in a semi- independent apartment made a significant and independent contribution to the total lifestyle satisfaction over and above the contribution made by personal and behavioural characteristics. However, participants who did not live in a semi-independent apartment expressed more lifestyle satisfaction than those who did.
Mild cognitive impairment in the oldest old: a comparison of two approaches
- Authors:
- HONG T. B., JOHANSSON B., ZARIT S. H.
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 7(4), July 2003, pp.271-276.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
The main purpose of the current investigation was to examine the predictive utility of two sets of criteria for mild cognitive impairment (MCI). A second purpose was to determine the incidence of MCI in a longitudinal, population-based sample of the oldest old in Sweden. The participants were from the larger ‘Origins of Variance in the Old-Old: Octogenarian Twins’ (OCTO-Twin) study, identified through the Swedish Twin Registry. Participants were initially aged 80 or above with a mean age of 83 and were re-examined after two, three, six and eight years. The sample for this study consisted of 263 elders that were randomly selected singletons from twin pairs. Mild cognitive impairment was rated at baseline using both Petersen’s and Ritchie’s criteria. Petersen’s criteria emphasize memory and memory complaint whereas Ritchie’s criteria use a broader set of cognitive indicators. The incidence rate was comparable to that of other studies, however, neither set of criteria predicted subsequent dementia. The failure to confirm subsequent dementia suggests that there may be many sources of MCI in very late life besides incipient dementia. The presence of a key informant, as well as the weighting of performance across domains by an experienced clinician, both of which are hard to quantify, may be the key elements that give predictive values to MCI in prior studies.
Passive activities: the effectiveness of multisensory environments on the level of activity of individuals with profound multiple disabilities
- Authors:
- VLASKAMP Carla, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 16(2), June 2003, pp.135-143.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The use of multisensory environments (MSEs) is perceived to be important for individuals with profound and multiple disabilities, although there is limited research on the efficacy of the procedures. After a search of the literature, numerous positive outcomes of MSEs were described. Our research aimed to determine whether the use of an MSE, when applied to increase the level of alertness and interaction, actually leads to this effect. A total of 15 facilities in the Netherlands and Belgium agreed to participate in the investigation. Information was gathered on the use of MSE by 177 individuals. For 62 persons, an increase of level of activity was the only stated goal. We randomly selected 20 persons out of this group for observation, using momentary time sampling as a means to relate multisensory experiences to the level of alertness and interaction. The results of our study show that in general there is little evidence for an increase in activity levels as a result of MSE. There is, however, a relation between the level of activity and contextual variables. In particular, people with profound multiple disabilities have strong responses towards stimuli provided by members of staff (touching, talking to the person). In general, the living unit is as good a place as the MSE for promoting alertness and interactions. The influence of materials on the level of activity is limited.
Post-traumatic stress disorder and people with learning disabilities: a literature based discussion
- Authors:
- DOYLE Colin, MITCHELL Duncan
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Learning Disabilities, 7(1), March 2003, pp.23-33.
- Publisher:
- Sage
People with learning disabilities may experience emotional traumas that impact upon their ability to enjoy life. Much of this trauma mnaifests itself in challenging behaviour. The authors discuss key points from the literature and suggest that post-traumatic stress disorder in people with learning disabilities often goes unrecognised.
Assessing the severity of challenging behaviour: psychometric properties of the challenging behaviour interview
- Authors:
- OLIVER Chris, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 16(1), March 2003, pp.53-61.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The Challenging Behaviour Interview (CBI) was developed as an assessment of the severity of challenging behaviour. The CBI is divided into two parts. Part I of the interview identifies the occurrence of five clearly operationalized forms of challenging behaviour that have occurred in the last month. Part II of the interview assesses the severity of the behaviours identified on 14 scales measuring the frequency and duration of episodes, effects on the individual and others and the management strategies used by carers. In this article the authors report upon its psychometric properties and discuss potential clinical and research uses of the new scale.