Degree Of Intellectual Disability Research Articles

The Prudhoe Cognitive Function Test, a scale to assess cognitive function in adults with Down's syndrome: inter-rater and test-retest reliability.

The Prudhoe Cognitive Function Test (PCFT) was designed to measure cognitive function in subjects with all degrees of intellectual disability (ID) and to be administered by non-specialist raters. The aim of the present study was to measure the test-retest and inter-rater reliability of the PCFT. Three raters, one a specialist and two non-specialists, administered the PCFT to 14 subjects with Down's syndrome on two occasions separated by 4 weeks. The intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) between the rater pairs (n=3) were 0.99, 0.99 and 0.98 (P<0.01). Floor effects were recorded for two items. The ICC for test-retest reliability was 0.99 (P<0.01). The PCFT is a highly reliable instrument when used by either specialist or non-specialist raters. It has excellent temporal stability.

Implicit learning in children and adolescents with mental retardation.

The literature on implicit learning in persons with mental retardation is scarce and contradictory with respect to the relationship between degree of intellectual disability and impact of implicit-learning processes on performance. We examined children and adolescents with mild or moderate mental retardation and typically developing children matched on MA with regard to their implicit learning. Individuals with mental retardation modified their behavior after an implicit training procedure in a way similar to MA- or CA-matched controls. The impact of implicit learning did not vary as a function of IQ or age. However, some differences appeared between groups in their explicit remembering of the training conditions. The theoretical implications of these results are discussed.

Discapacidad intelectual y envejecimiento: un nuevo reto para el siglo XXI

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to determine the characteristics of adults with intellectual disability who survive for more than 45 years. MethodsWe performed a cross-sectional, descriptive study of a representative sample of 189 individuals aged more than 45 years with certified intellectual disability. The subjects were randomly selected from individuals attending centres of the Autonomous Community of Galicia in Spain. The instrument used to gather information was a specifically-designed and validated questionnaire. ResultsSixty percent of subjects lived with their families, with whom 49.7% reported a good relationship. The degree of intellectual disability was moderate in 49.7% and severe in 36.5%. Aetiology was unknown in 42.5%. ConclusionsShortfalls detected in the quality of care indicate that urgent action should be taken to improve resources and the degree of specialisation among staff, as well as to aid families, who provide the main support to individuals with mental disability.

Long-term physical inactivity and oral health in Finnish adults with intellectual disability

Physical inactivity is prevalent among patients with intellectual disability. Because little is known about the oral effects of poor mobility, we reviewed the medical and dental charts of institutionalized dentate patients (n = 214;40.2 years - 12.1) of the Special Welfare District of Southwestern Finland. The number of decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT), the number of retained teeth, dental treatment visits, and the type of the first treatment visit were recorded. Physical activity was good in 55% and severely reduced or completely absent in 45% of the patients. The degree of intellectual disability was mild or moderate in 40% and severe or profound in 60% of the patients. The walking patients weighed more (64.3 (19.6)versus 44.4 (14.4) kg; P < 0.001), had fewer secondary diagnoses (1.4 (1.3) versus 2.2 (1.4); P < 0.001), fewer daily medications (4.0 (2.1) versus 4.8 (2.4); P < 0.02), higher DMFT scores (18.5 (8.2) versus 14.8 (9.2); P < 0.05), and more dental treatment visits (2.7 (2.4) versus 2.0 (1.3); P < 0.03) than patients with poor physical activity. Periodontal treatment given as the primary type of dental care was more common among subjects with poor mobility than among those with good motor activity (P < 0.002). Poor physical activity was related to better dental health, higher need for periodontal therapy, and fewer dental visits than in patients with good motor activity.

Causal explanations, concern and optimism regarding self-injurious behaviour displayed by individuals with Cornelia de Lange syndrome: the parents' perspective.

Research into behaviours associated with specific syndromes, such as Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS), has neglected to explore the parents' perspective, particularly the potential impact of the notion of behavioural phenotypes on parents' causal explanations. Given the research focus on self-injurious behaviour (SIB) in CdLS, the present study examined parental concern across four topographies of challenging behaviour, causal explanations for these behaviours and optimism for change. As part of a larger study, a questionnaire survey of 86 parents of children and adults with CdLS was conducted. Quantitative data on parental concern and optimism with regard to behaviour problems were collected. Causal explanations for behaviour problems were examined by subjecting open-ended responses to a content analysis. Parents were as concerned about physical aggression and disruptive behaviours as they were about SIB. The majority of parents had deconstructed how CdLS might be associated with SIB in terms of other factors associated with CdLS, such as degree of intellectual disability. Parents did not believe that CdLS influenced SIB more than other challenging behaviours and their beliefs did not effect optimism regarding future change in the behaviour. Despite the focus of research on SIB in CdLS, parents of children and adults with CdLS are also concerned about other challenging behaviours. There was no evidence that a deterministic perspective had been adopted by parents and causal explanations were unrelated to optimism for future change.

Are people with intellectual disabilities just another customer? Interviews with business owners and staff.

Descriptive information on the views of business people towards the presence of persons with intellectual disabilities as customers was reported. We interviewed 89 individuals representing a range of shops and local amenities in four urban and four country regions in Queensland, Australia. We also systematically examined the influence of degree of intellectual disabilities by interviewing employees in shops near community residential facilities for persons with mild/moderate and those near facilities for persons with severe/profound intellectual disabilities. A third group of businesses not located near any such residential facilities served as a control group. Overall, results suggest that business people had few special concerns related to interactions with customers who have intellectual disabilities.

Schizophrenia in people with intellectual disability: the role of pregnancy and birth complications.

The literature suggests that mental illness is more common in people with intellectual disability than in the general population. Having reviewed the literature, Turner (1989) [Psychological Medicine 19, 301-14] suggested that about 3% of people with intellectual disability also have schizophrenia. As pregnancy and birth complications (PBCs) occur more commonly in people with intellectual disability than in the general population and are also implicated in the aetiology of schizophrenia, it is possible that these conditions share a common aetiology. This study reports on the occurrence of PBCs in those people with intellectual disability who develop schizophrenia. Fifty people with intellectual disability and schizophrenia were matched for age, sex, degree of intellectual disability and presence of epilepsy with a control group who did not suffer from schizophrenia or a schizophreniform psychosis. The obstetric history was obtained and events rated on a scale specifically designed for this study. This PBCs scale consists of six sub-scales covering areas of general maternal health, pregnancy, delivery, medication in labour, total medication score and neonatal score, as well as an overall total score. The study found that people with intellectual disability who develop schizophrenia have significantly higher rates of PBCs than controls. All of the sub-scales on the PBCs scale were significantly higher in people with schizophrenia, with the exception of the medication scales. Only five out of the 50 people with schizophrenia had not had a major obstetric complication, compared to 13 subjects from the control group. A number of abnormalities were specifically higher in people who later developed schizophrenia. These included: abnormally long or short labour; maternal episiotomy; maternal preeclamptic toxaemia; induction of labour; dysmaturity; maternal smoking in pregnancy; and a delay in neonatal crying. The results suggest that PBCs are important in the aetiology of schizophrenia in people with intellectual disability.

Schizophrenia in people with intellectual disability: the role of pregnancy and birth complications

AbstractThe literature suggests that mental illness is more common in people with intellectual disability than in the general population. Having reviewed the literature, Turner (1989) [Psychological Medicine 19, 301–14] suggested that about 3% of people with intellectual disability also have schizophrenia. As pregnancy and birth complications (PBCs) occur more commonly in people with intellectual disability than in the general population and are also implicated in the aetiology of schizophrenia, it is possible that these conditions share a common aetiology. This study reports on the occurrence of PBCs in those people with intellectual disability who develop schizophrenia. Fifty people with intellectual disability and schizophrenia were matched for age, sex, degree of intellectual disability and presence of epilepsy with a control group who did not suffer from schizophrenia or a schizophreniform psychosis. The obstetric history was obtained and events rated on a scale specifically designed for this study. This PBCs scale consists of six sub‐scales covering areas of general maternal health, pregnancy, delivery, medication in labour, total medication score and neonatal score, as well as an overall total score. The study found that people with intellectual disability who develop schizophrenia have significantly higher rates of PBCs than controls. All of the sub‐scales on the PBCs scale were significantly higher in people with schizophrenia, with the exception of the medication scales. Only five out of the 50 people with schizophrenia had not had a major obstetric complication, compared to 13 subjects from the control group. A number of abnormalities were specifically higher in people who later developed schizophrenia. These included: abnormally long or short labour; maternal episiotomy; maternal preeclamptic toxaemia; induction of labour; dysmaturity; maternal smoking in pregnancy; and a delay in neonatal crying. The results suggest that PBCs are important in the aetiology of schizophrenia in people with intellectual disability.

A Review of DRO: The Influence of the Degree of Intellectual Disability and the Frequency of the Target Behaviour

A review of the use of Differential Reinforcement of Other Behaviours (DRO) showed that the majority of people had target behaviour with an initial frequency of greater than once a minute. There was a rapid drop in the number of published studies as the frequency of the initial target behaviour decreased. However, there were some studies that reported using DRO to reduce target behaviours with frequencies of less than once a day. There was evidence that DRO could be used with people with the full range of intellectual disabilities, to reduce target behaviours with frequencies as low as several times an hour, though those people with severe to profound disability needed more training on the DRO schedule before it was effective. It is suggested that DRO may not be as effective with lower frequency target behaviours and recommendations are made as to how its effectiveness might be increased.

Seizures and intellectual disability associated with tuberous sclerosis complex in the west of Scotland.

Of 104 individuals with tuberous sclerosis complex ascertained from the total population of the west of Scotland, 52 were born before and 52 after 1st July 1966. Of those born before. 10 had no seizures, 14 had seizures and no intellectual disability and 28 had seizures and intellectual disability; of those born after, four had no seizures, 18 had seizures and 30 had seizures and a degree of intellectual disability. Infantile spasms or other generalised seizures as the presenting seizure type (N = 29) was strongly associated with intellectual disability; partial seizures as the presenting seizure type (N = 19) was associated with normal development. Although the onset of seizures under one year of age and the presence of multiple seizure types were associated with intellectual disability, the strongest association was with the type of presenting seizure.