Search results for ‘Subject term:"learning disabilities"’ Sort:
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Failure to detect deaf-blindness in a population of people with intellectual disability
- Authors:
- FELLINGER J., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 53(10), October 2009, pp.874-881.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
It is suggested that deaf-blindness is often missed despite the importance of early intervention to ensure appropriate management. This survey was designed to discover the extent to which it is undiagnosed in people with intellectual disability (ID). Data was obtained for 224 residents of an institute in Upper Austria. Otoacoustic emissions were used to screen for hearing impairment; those who did not pass were assessed by behavioural audiometry. Visual acuity was assessed with one of the following; EH-Optotypes, LH-Optotypes, Teller Acuity Cards, Cardiff Acuity Cards or the Stycar Ball Vision Test. Prior to the study hearing impairment had been diagnosed in 12.5% of the 224 subjects, and visual impairment in 17%. At the end these figures rose to 46% and 38.4% respectively. Deaf-blindness was diagnosed in 3.6% of the subjects before, and in 21.4% after, the study. Most (87.5%) of the deaf-blind individuals had profound ID. Four categories of deaf-blindness are proposed, according to the severity of sensory impairment in each modality. The authors suggest that the non-invasive tests used in this study are appropriate for the special care needed when screening individuals with ID. They recommend early and periodic screening for visual and hearing impairment in these individuals.
The capacity to give informed consent in a homeless population with developmental disabilities
- Authors:
- MORTON Larry G., CUNNINGHAM-WILLIAMS Renee M.
- Journal article citation:
- Community Mental Health Journal, 45(5), October 2009, pp.341-348.
- Publisher:
- Springer
This study examined homeless persons with developmental disabilities and their ability to understand the informed consent process for research using a capacity-to-consent screener. Bivariate associations with the inability to pass the screener on the first attempt were noted with three factors: an eighth grade or less in education, chronic homelessness, and mental retardation diagnosis. With multiple regression, the only outcome associated with inability to pass the screener on the first attempt was an eighth grade or less education. This study indicates the need for consideration of developmental disabilities when homeless and mental health providers are working with the homeless community.
The Usefulness of the DBC-ASA as a screening instrument for autism in children with intellectual disabilities: a pilot study
- Authors:
- DEB Shoumitro, DHALIWAL Akal-Joat, ROY Meera
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 22(5), September 2009, pp.498-501.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
In order to explore the validity of Developmental Behaviour Checklist-Autism Screening Algorithm (DBC-ASA) as a screening instrument for autism among children with intellectual disabilities data were collected from the case notes of 109 children with intellectual disabilities attending a specialist clinic in the UK. The mean score of the DBC-ASA was significantly higher among children with autism compared with those without. It is concluded that the DBC-ASA score may be able to discriminate between children with intellectual disabilities with and without autism.
Screening adults with Down's syndrome for early signs of dementia
- Author:
- MCBRIEN Judith
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Integrated Care, 17(3), June 2009, pp.3-7.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
This article outlines the case for learning disability teams to provide routine screening of adults with Down's syndrome for early signs of dementia. It is illustrated by reference to practice in one such service where clinical and research developments have gone hand in hand, with tangible benefits to clients, carers and the multi-disciplinary team. Although specifically designed to meet the challenge of the increasing number of people with Down's syndrome who develop dementia, it is applicable to the care of all people with learning disabilities.
Annual health checks: uptake in Wales and users' views
- Authors:
- PERRY Jonathan, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Llais, 92, Summer 2009, pp.6-10.
- Publisher:
- Learning Disability Wales
All adults with learning disabilities in Wales are entitled to annual health checks. This article reports on the outcome of a series of focus groups which were conducted with people with learning disabilities to find out their views about health checks. It also contains a table showing how many people in each local health board area of Wales had a health check in 2006/7 and 2007/8.
Instruments for the detection of depressive symptoms in people with intellectual disabilities: a systematic review
- Authors:
- PEREZ-ACHIAGA N., NELSON S., HASSIOTIS A.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 13(1), March 2009, pp.55-76.
- Publisher:
- Sage
- Place of publication:
- London
Affective disorders, particularly depression, are common in adults with intellectual disabilities. However the detection of these disorders is hindered by the varied presentation of depressive symptoms across the range of intellectual disability. A systematic review of the available English-language diagnostic instruments for depressive disorders for adults with all levels of intellectual disability was undertaken. Studies were appraised based on the instruments' psychometric properties, sensitivity and specificity. Twenty one of 28 identified studies which contained original data on validity and reliability; the `gold standard' ranged from clinical opinion to other established instruments, some of which had limited validation in people with intellectual disability. In view of the benefits of psychological treatments for common mental disorders, it is important to develop instruments to be used in monitoring cognitive as well as behavioural outcomes for people with intellectual disability and depressive disorders.
Addressing alcohol and drug addiction among people with mental retardation in nonaddiction settings: a need for cross-system collaboration
- Authors:
- SLAYTER Elspeth, STEENROD Shelley A.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions, 9(1), January 2009, pp.71-90.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
The evidence suggests that substance abuse services for people with learning disabilities are likely to be received in nonaddiction settings that are generally focused on mental health services and are unequipped to service and support such clients. This article aims to provide social workers in nonaddiction settings with the tools to conduct substance abuse screening and to engage with colleagues in addiction settings to bring about effective intervention. The article discusses the risk, consequences and prevalence of substance abuse in people with learning disabilities, and the issues regarding their access to treatment. Current knowledge about substance abuse screening, assessment, and intervention in people with mental retardation is covered. Finally, the article concludes with a basic framework for social workers in mental health services to improve cross-system collaboration with social workers in substance abuse when working with a client with learning disabilities and substance abuse.
Cost estimation of a health-check intervention for adults with intellectual disabilities in the UK
- Authors:
- ROMEO R., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 53(5), May 2009, pp.426-439.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
High rates of health needs among adults with intellectual disabilities flag the need for information about the economic consequences of strategies to identify and address unmet needs. Health-check interventions are one such strategy, and have been demonstrated to effect health gains over the following 12-month period. However, little is known about their effects on service use and costs, and hence how affordable such interventions are. The authors examined service use patterns and costs over a 12-month period for 50 adult participants with intellectual disabilities who received a health-check intervention and 50 individually matched control participants who received standard care only. The health-check intervention was cheap, and it did not have associated higher costs in terms of service usage. Indeed, mean cost of care for the adults who received standard care only was greater than for the adults who received the health-check intervention. The higher costs were due to differences in unpaid carer support costs. This is the first study to report the associated service use, and costs of a health-check intervention to improve the health of adults with intellectual disabilities and reduce health inequalities. Results suggest this intervention is cheap and affordable compared with standard care, supporting clinical outcome evidence for its introduction into health care policy and implementation. However, further research is needed to confirm this finding with a larger sample.
Dementia in older adults with intellectual disabilities: a report on the state of science on dementia in older adults with intellectual disabilities by the IASSID Special Interest Research Group on Ageing and Intellectual Disabilities
- Authors:
- STRYDOM Andre, et al
- Publisher:
- International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual Disabilities
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 49p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- Canterbury
This systematic review summarises current knowledge on dementia in older people with learning disabilities. The review included papers published from 1997 to 2008. Findings are discussed in the areas of: epidemiology; presentation and symptoms; screening, assessment and diagnosis; non-pharmacological and pharmacological interventions and issues for carers.