Common Physical Health Issues in Persons with Intellectual Disability

Abstract

Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (ID) have a higher prevalence of physical health impairments leading to morbidities and premature deaths. The common conditions implicated are epilepsy, gastrointestinal concerns such as constipation and dyspepsia, sensory impairments, musculoskeletal issues, and thyroid disorders. Chronic diseases including hypertension, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and metabolic syndromes occur at an earlier age and nearly half of these conditions are detected only by screening. Annual health checks by primary care teams in the community are being implemented in many countries. Comprehensive health checks using standard questionnaires and preventative health check guidelines specially designed for persons with intellectual disabilities are of great help to primary care physicians in busy clinical settings. Addressing the concerns raised by healthcare professionals on the lack of knowledge and understanding of health needs of persons with ID can be easily addressed by appropriate training programmes. Eliminating communication barriers can be achieved by appropriate training programmes and implementing the use of easy-read materials. Reasonable adjustments must be implemented in practices to facilitate better health experiences for persons with ID and their caregivers.