Search results for ‘Subject term:"learning disabilities"’ Sort:
Results 1 - 2 of 2
Self-Injurious behavior in older adults with intellectual disabilities
- Authors:
- GLAESSER Richard S., PERKINS Elizabeth A.
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work: A journal of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), 58(3), 2013, pp.213-221.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Self-injurious behavior (SIB) is a distressing type of problem behaviour that may be exhibited in individuals with intellectual disabilities (IDs). This article provides an overview of SIB, its underlying causes and functions, as well as other key variables associated with its manifestation. Adults with IDs are routinely living longer. Given this rapidly emerging and expanding population, special attention is given to SIB in aging adults with IDs that may result from age-related risk factors. Risks include increasing and unresolved health issues, physical changes, declining physical abilities, transitions to new residential environments, and the potential for experiencing loss and bereavement. The article concludes with practice implications for social workers who may encounter older individuals with IDs and SIB. (Publisher abstract)
Aspects of cognitive functioning in adults with intellectual disabilities
- Authors:
- PERKINS Elizabeth A., SMALL Brent J.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 3(3), September 2006, pp.181-194.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This literature review examines age-related differences in specific aspects of cognitive functioning and cognitive performance of people with ID and Alzheimer's disease (AD), as well as what maybe be protective and risk factors. Training interventions designed to enhance cognitive performance are also reviewed. The authors note that greater efforts are needed with respect to delineating the function and deficits in cognitive domains within aging adults. Methodological issues that merit further attention includes utilizing appropriate age ranges and assessment of intra-individual variability in statistical analysis of cognitive performance. While, consideration should be given to the continued development of specific cognitive tasks and tests that have been developed, validated, and normed for this population, there is still a critical need for more longitudinal data with multiple time points, to assess and track trajectories of change over time, especially as cohort effects of residential living, and educational and vocational opportunities have varied so widely over the last 30 years, and are likely to be a substantial confounding factor. Furthermore, efforts need to ensure that instruments continue to be developed with specificity and sensitivity to detect pathological deficits in AD-related performance. Lastly, greater research attention is warranted to describe and meet the needs of the burgeoning aging population of people with ID. This will ultimately guide policy makers to develop better practice protocols to maximize cognitive function in normative and pathological aging.