Learning Disability
Tutorial 24th April
2009
These patients will have been identified before
age 18 and will have an IQ estimated at less than 70. The condition
is life long, and may be defined as ‘significantly reduced
ability to understand new and complex information, to learn new
skills (impaired intelligence) with a reduced ability to cope
independently (impaired social functioning), starting before
adulthood with a lasting effect on
development.nt’.
Objectives
Medical care
Consent and capacity
Care homes - when to get involved in deficient
care?
Types of conditions
encountered
Prevalence?
Reduced life expectancy:
People with
learning disabilities are living longer. In the 1930s average life
expectancy was estimated to be less than 20 years of age (Holland
2008). Mean life expectancy is now estimated to be 74, 67 and 58
for those with mild, moderate and severe learning disabilities
respectively (Bittles et al 2002).
2.5 times the number of medical
problems
3 times the number of repeat
prescriptions
30% epilepsy
30% visual problems
30% hearing problems
Continence and Mobility
problems
Down's - high rates of dementia and
hypothyroidism
Mental health problems - patterns of
presentation?
Improving the care of these
patients
Communication
Other considerations
Incorporating the views of parents and
carers
Negative influences?
Does the NHS routine Down's Screening programme
undermine the DOH's recent
'Valuing
People'strategy for learning
disabilities?
What about annual health
checks?
1. The consultation
