Learning difficulties

Question 1

what is the ICD-10 criteria for learning disability

Answer 1

emphasises need for deficits in:
-intellectual functioning
-adaptive functioning (how well a person handles common demands in life and how indepedent they are comapred to others of a similar age and background)
-onset before childhood

now called intellectual disability

Question 2

what is the DSM-5 criteria for learning disability?

Answer 2

limited functioning in 3 areas:
social skills - communicating with others
conceptual skills- reading and writing
practical ability - bathing one’s self

Question 3

Define learning disability and is the life expectancy higher or lower?

Answer 3

a significant reduced ability to understand new or complex info and learning new skills with reduced ability to cope independently impaired social fucntioning, which started before adulthood with lasting effect on development

now called intellectual disability

lower

Question 4

what is the difference between disability and difficulty

Answer 4

Disability is impairment
difficulty does not have an effect on general intellect

disability onset- infancy

difficulty onset- childhood

dificulty- diminishes progressively wiht age and support

Question 5

what is the average IQ

Answer 5

Bell shaped curve with 100 being the mean.

Question 6

how can severity of learning disabilities be classified

Answer 6

Severity of learning disabilities classified by IQ

-Mild (speech delay)- need extra support from tutor/TA, genuinely independent in self-care and may have employment with extra support

-Moderate (difficult with speech delay have deficit in language/comprehension)-not passing year ¾ at school. Less paid employment

-Severe (Minimal speech, poor motor development, live in supervised living situations/ group homes)

-Profound (very minimal language, assistance for almost all aspect of daily living, might have physical difficulty/ comorbidities like epilepsy)-usually organic cause

Question 7

what are some criticisms of IQ

Answer 7

-Not fixed throughout life
-difficult to meaure in severe learning diability patients as they may not be able to communicate
-doesnt mesuare social and practical function
-distractions or anxiety can affect their score
-depression/motivational factors so outcome may not reside with actual IQ

Question 8

what is the IQ for borderline intelligence and what is it usually associated with?

Answer 8

between 71-84

associated with ADHD and autism

Question 9

what is mencap

Answer 9

delivering services for people with a learning disability that offer great experiences, quality of life, and peace of mind for families

Question 10

what are some components involved in transforming care in LD? what are the 3 main parts?

Answer 10

-deinstitutionalise
-homes not hospitals
-patients in community
-LD services MDT approach:
Occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, physiotherapy, psychology, psychiatry

3 main components:
-deinstitionalisation
-patinets in community
-homes not hospitals

Question 11

what is the developmental perspective for LD and what is development vulnerable to?

Answer 11

Brain development is prenatal and the first years of life and in adolescence.

vulnerable to adverse affects like child neglect

very vulnerable to damage

Question 12

what are some environment factors that can hinder brain development?

Answer 12

-intra-uterine - in the womb/uterus (foetal alcohol syndrome)
-perinatal complications - the period of time when you become pregnant and up to a year after giving birth
- early infancy
-poverty

Question 13

what are some prenatal, perinatal and postnatal causes?

Answer 13

prenatal - chromosomal disorders like Down syndrome or trisomy, deletion causing angel man, sex chromosome abnormality causing klinefelters, environmental influences such as alcohol intake and folic acid deficiency which increases risk of developing spina bifida, developmental disorders of brain formation eg spina bifida

perinatal - low birth weight, herpes simplex and syphilis, congential infection -HIV

postnatal - biological such as intake of sufficient nutrients, psychosocial eg attachment, child abuse and neglect, infection, TBI

Question 14

What is the most common inherited cause of LD and what is the commonest chromosomal abnormality causing LD?

Answer 14

Fragile X syndrome and Down syndrome

Question 15

what are some metabolic and structural causes of LD?

Answer 15

Amino acid- phenylketoneuria
carbohydrate - galactosaemia

Spina bifida - a neural tube defect

anencephaly - born with our parts of the brain and skull

Question 16

what is there increased risk of as they get older

Answer 16

hearing impairment, epilepsy and dementia

Question 17

what are some of the differential diagnosis?

Answer 17

Autism, cerebral palsy

Question 18

how can you do an assessment

Answer 18

look at behaviour and social functioning and make sure it does not overlap with other conditions.

Question 19

what are some psychiatric comorbidites

Answer 19

OCD
ADHD
disruptive behaviour
substance misuse (less common)

Question 20

what are some of the behavioural characteristics that can be seen and what is the prevalence of challenging behaviour, what gender and age is it more prevalent in?

Answer 20

aggresion - hitting
destruction - throwing objects
self injury - head banging
tantrums

That headbanging much be pleasurable and soothing for them, so this can be quite tricky
the repetitive self inuring behaviour can be associated with institutionalisation, abuse, neglect

10-15%
more common in males
and more prevalent in 15-24 years
and is more frequent with an increase in severity of LD?

Question 21

what is autism and what is it characterised by and what are ways to aid communication?

Answer 21

Autism is a developmental disorder that affects communication, behavior, and social interaction.

It’s called a “spectrum” disorder because it includes a wide range of symptoms and abilities.

People with autism might have difficulty understanding social cues, may engage in repetitive behaviors, and can have varied levels of language skills.

Things to aid communication-
Speech/communication therapy- keep sentences short
-visual aids
-images that associate with certain emotions to understand what they need
-use sign language to support communication
Open body language

Question 22

what does make macaron help with

Answer 22

helps children and adults who have difficulty communicating, paying attention and listening to understanding. speech.