Search results for ‘Subject term:"learning disabilities"’ Sort:
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Pain signals
- Author:
- DONOVAN Jim
- Journal article citation:
- Nursing Times, 5.11.97, 1997, pp.60-62.
- Publisher:
- Nursing Times
Explains the range of ways people with learning disabilities have to show that they are in pain.
‘I Feel Pain’– audit of communication skills and understanding of pain and health needs with people with learning disabilities
- Authors:
- BEACROFT Monica, DODD Karen
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 39(2), June 2011, pp.139-147.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
People with learning disabilities are known to find it harder than other people to access treatment for general health problems. A 4-part audit was conducted with people with learning disabilities to investigate pain recognition and management. This article describes the section of the audit which looked at what people with learning disabilities understood and experienced when they had pain compared to good practice from the literature. A total of 40 people with mild or moderate learning disabilities across Surrey participated in the study. The results show that the participants struggle to discuss pain effectively, and may describe it in terms of feelings or emotions. Little use is made of pain recognition tools or communication aids. The most common response to having pain is to be taken to the doctors, and many people were not offered pain medication by staff. Other alternative strategies were not used to manage pain. Although most people did not make the decision as to whether they needed to see their doctor, most people knew who their doctor was and reported good experiences in terms of information sharing once at the appointment. Information booklets and training are being developed to help staff and family carers recognise and manage pain in people with learning disabilities.
Detecting pain in people with profound learning disabilities
- Author:
- ASTOR Roberta
- Journal article citation:
- Nursing Times, 4.10.01, 2001, pp.38-39.
- Publisher:
- Nursing Times
People who find it difficult to communicate can suffer pain without being able to let anyone know about it. Describes an attempt to set an early warning system to reduce such suffering.
Think pain
- Authors:
- KERR Diana, WILKINSON Heather, CUNNINGHAM Colm
- Journal article citation:
- Learning Disability Today, February 2009, pp.34-36.
- Publisher:
- Pavilion
- Place of publication:
- Hove
The research reported in this paper explores the pain experiences amongst people with a learning disability who also have dementia. The paper outlines the additional issues that need to be taken into consideration when providing care for someone with a learning disability and dementia. Areas discussed include: misunderstanding behaviour that is 'challenging', problems with communication, lack of staff knowledge about the conditions of older age and the impact of dementia, and prescription of medication.
Comprehension of pictograms for pain quality and pain affect in adults with Down syndrome
- Authors:
- DE KNEGT Nanda C., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 41(3), 2016, pp.222-232.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Background: Adults with Down syndrome (DS) are at risk for age-related painful physical conditions, but also for under-reporting pain. Pictograms may facilitate self-report of pain, because they seem suitable for the global visual processing in DS and for iconic representation of abstract concepts. Method: Participants (N = 39, M age = 41.2) assigned pain qualities to pictograms, rated pain affect levels in facial scales (pictograms vs. drawn faces), and performed cognitive tests. Results: Recognition of all intended pain qualities was above chance level. Pain affect levels of both facial scales were ordered equally well. Both facial scales were preferred equally well. Comprehension of the 3 scales was positively associated with mental age, receptive language ability, and verbal memory. Most participants (74%) had pictograms in their direct environment, mainly to communicate activities or objects. Conclusion: Using pictograms may optimise communication about pain for a subgroup of cognitively higher functioning adults with DS. (Edited publisher abstract)
Supporting Derek: a practice development guide to support staff working with people who have a learning difficulty and dementia
- Authors:
- WATCHMAN Karen, KERR Diana, WILKINSON Heather
- Publisher:
- Joseph Rowntree Foundation
- Publication year:
- 2010
- Pagination:
- 58p., DVD
- Place of publication:
- York
This training pack is aimed at staff and volunteers supporting people with learning difficulties who have or may develop dementia. It is designed to be used by a trainer or lead person for training or to promote discussion. Each section is structured around 10 topics. Sections cover: learning difficulty and dementia; understanding behaviour; developing supportive environments; responding to pain; effective communication; meaningful activities; when a friend or relative has dementia; nutrition and hydration; night-time care; and palliative care. Each section includes suggested activities, information sheets and tools, and further reading. A DVD, which includes a short drama acted out by people with a learning difficulty and discussion on the drama, accompanies the training pack.
Message received?
- Authors:
- GIBSON Lynn, MATTHEWS Dorothy, REGNARD Claud
- Journal article citation:
- Learning Disability Today, 10(8), October 2010, pp.24-25.
- Publisher:
- Pavilion
- Place of publication:
- Hove
This article examines the identification of distress in people with learning disabilities who have trouble communicating. Correct identification of distress among this group will lead to enhanced diagnosis, better symptom control, and ultimately much improved health care. Undetected symptoms in people with learning disabilities are often due to lack of communication. This article argues that meaningful communication depends on the ability of people to recognise and translate the many different cues available and not just those verbally expressed. Observation by key people in the lives of people with learning disability, particularly carers, can be crucial to identify and treat the symptoms of distress. The article describes the Disability Distress Assessment Tool (DisDAT), an observational tool developed to document content and distressed states. DisDAT can be completed with the involvement of friends and family, and ensures that the carers’ knowledge and contribution is accepted in any discussions on what is wrong with the patient.
Pain in people with learning disabilities in residential settings: the need for change
- Authors:
- BEACROFT Monica, DODD Karen
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 38(3), September 2010, pp.201-209.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Many people with learning disabilities find it difficult to communicate effectively that they are in pain or how they are feeling. This audit investigated residential staff beliefs around pain thresholds, and the strategies they adopt to recognise and manage pain in people with learning disabilities. A structured interview was held with 58 staff from 33 residential homes and supported living services across Surrey. The results demonstrated that pain is not being effectively recognised or managed by residential staff, and that people with learning disabilities are not getting timely and appropriate medication for their pain. Some staff still believed that people with learning disabilities have a higher pain threshold than people without a learning disability, and let this belief affect how they manage pain. The results highlighted the need for training for staff in how to recognise and manage pain, as well as the need for appropriate pain recognition tools and communication aids to be utilised to support people with learning disabilities to be able to communicate their pain to others. It also indicated the need for better communication between staff and other services that the person with learning disabilities accesses.
Sodium-valproate-induced pancreatitis in a man with profound intellectual disability: the significance of diagnostic difficulties
- Authors:
- HINDER Steve A.J., PERRY David W.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 13(4), 2000, pp.292-297.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Pancreatitis is a common but under-reported complication of treatment with sodium valproate, a drug frequently prescribed for people with intellectual disabilities. The present authors report a case of valproate-induced pancreatitis in a man with profound intellectual disability and review the relevant literature. The wider implications of problems experienced with diagnosis are discussed, emphasizing difficulties in recognizing pain and physical illness in this client group.