Intellectual Disability Flashcards
(14 cards)
Definition of intellectual disability
IQ <70 with significant impairment in adaptive functioning, both present before age 18
What is adaptive functioning?
Ability to manage daily tasks: dressing, washing, cooking, reading, accessing the community
What is not classed as intellectual disability?
Specific learning difficulties which only affect 1 area of life (e.g. dyslexia), ADHD, autism, acquired causes like head injury
Epidemiology of intellectual disability
More common in males (e.g. Fragile X), 25–50% have mental illness, associated with CP and epilepsy, reduced life expectancy
Neurological conditions associated with ID
50% of CP patients, 40% of those with severe ID have epilepsy
By how much is life expectancy reduced in ID?
22 years in men, 26 years in women
Prenatal causes of ID
Genetics (Down’s, Fragile X), spina bifida, CP, malnutrition, alcohol/drugs
Perinatal causes of ID
Infections, asphyxia
Postnatal causes of ID
Epilepsy, meningitis, head injury, lead poisoning
Mild intellectual disability features
IQ 50–69, expressive language delayed, reasonable comprehension, independent, may have practical jobs
Moderate intellectual disability features
IQ 35–49, simple phrases only, limited comprehension and self-care, supervised living, voluntary work
Severe/profound intellectual disability features
IQ <35, little or no speech, very limited comprehension or self-care, needs constant supervision
Assessment for ID
Collateral and developmental history, assess for other mental disorders, MSE, risk assessment
MDT for ID
Community LD nurses, SALT, OT, PT, clinical psychologist, carers
