People with intellectual disabilities

People with intellectual disabilities comprise about 2% of the UK population. Demographics are, however, changing and the population of people with intellectual disabilities increased by 53% over the 35 year period 1960-95, which equals 1.2% per year.¹ A further 11% increase is projected for the 10 year period 1998-2008. These changes are the result of improved socioeconomic conditions, intensive neonatal care, and increasing survival. The health needs of people with intellectual disabilities have an impact on primary healthcare services and all secondary healthcare specialties.

People with intellectual disabilities experience health inequalities compared with the general population. Although their life expectancy is increasing, it remains much lower than for the rest of the population. The standardised mortality ratio has been found to be 8.4 for people with severe intellectual disabilities in United States and 4.9 for people with intellectual disabilities of all levels in Australia.Additionally, people with intellectual disabilities have higher levels of health needs than the general population, and these are often unrecognised and unmet. This contributes to ongoing health inequality, chronic ill health, and premature death. Many biological, psychological, social, and developmental factors, as well as life experience, contribute to this inequality. People with intellectual disabilities also experience access barriers in using health services.

Environmental

Environmental exposure during pregnancy may lead to intellectual disability, which can be caused by maternal exposure to a toxin, infectious agent, uncontrolled maternal condition, and birth complications.

One common toxic substance that leads to an intellectual disability during pregnancy includes alcohol. Alcohol exposure, indeed, commonly causes intellectual disability along with other developmental abnormalities, in a condition known as fetal alcohol syndrome. Fetal exposure to alcohol inhibits the production of retinoic acid, which is an essential signaling molecule for the development of the nervous system. Even a small amount of alcohol at any trimester of pregnancy may cause fetal alcohol syndrome. Exposure to opioids, cocaine, and teratogenic medications may also lead to intellectual disability.

 Comprehensive history of patients with intellectual disability must include the following:

• Information about the mother’s pregnancy, labor, and delivery
• Mother’s use of substance or medications during pregnancy
• Mother suffered any uncontrolled medical condition
• Was delivery pre-term?
• Was there any issue with delivery?
• Patient’s sensory, social, language, and motor developments to detect any developmental delay
• Patient’s exposure to infection, trauma, and toxin
• Patient’s medical conditions
• Patient’s psychiatric conditions
•  

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Regards,
Nancy Ella
Dual Diagnosis: Open Access
Email: dualdiagnosis@emedsci.com
WhatsApp no: +1-947-333-4405