Individuals with intellectual disabilities experience grief when they lose a loved one just like everyone else. Common misconceptions People with intellectual disabilities don’t understand or can’t comprehend death. People with intellectual disabilities don’t show grief, therefore experience no grief. Talking about it would be too upsetting for him/her. We now understand People with intellectual disabilities… Read more Helping People With Intellectual Disabilities Cope With Loss
Category: Health and Mental Health
Children’s Mental Health
Children’s mental health is the overall wellness of children’s thinking, mood, and feeling. It affects children’s ability to relate to others and complete daily tasks. Some common children’s mental health problems include depression, anxiety, and behavior disorders. Mental health problems are often harder to spot than physical health problems. Paying close attention to your child’s… Read more Children’s Mental Health
Williams Syndrome
What causes Williams syndrome? Individuals with Williams syndrome usually are missing a small piece of chromosome 7. This rare genetic disorder occurs spontaneously in 1 out of every 7, 500 births. It is not a result of an inherited characteristic from the parents. First recognized in 1961, Williams syndrome affects males and females at equal… Read more Williams Syndrome
Children and Hearing Loss
Hearing loss can cause long-lasting problems for young children. Children with hearing loss can have trouble learning speech and language, doing well in school, or getting along with other children. Early identification of hearing loss can prevent some of these difficulties. When might a child develop hearing loss? A child may be born with a… Read more Children and Hearing Loss
CHARGE Syndrome
CHARGE syndrome is thought to be caused by a mutation in the gene CHD7on chromosome #8. It occurs in 1 out of every 10,000 births and is not thought to be inherited. CHARGE syndrome affects males and females at equal rates and has been diagnosed in all ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds. What are the effects… Read more CHARGE Syndrome
Supporting a Healthy Brain
The human brain is the command center for the human nervous system. It weighs about 3 pounds and comprises 60 percent of fat, making it one of the fattiest organs in the body. A brain’s gray matter is made up of about 100 billion neurons that gather and transmit signals, while white matter is made… Read more Supporting a Healthy Brain
Accompanying an Individual to the Doctor
What is the reason for today’s visit? Adults with intellectual or other developmental disabilities may have difficulties explaining their symptoms or expressing pain, so the health care provider may have trouble determining the presence of an illness or injury. Having a direct support professional who knows the patient, knows how the patient communicates, and knows… Read more Accompanying an Individual to the Doctor
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Autism and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are general terms for a group of complex neurodevelopmental disorders. The new diagnostic classification system (DSM-5, May 2013) combines the previous subcategories of autistic disorder, Asperger’s disorder, childhood disintegrative disorder, and pervasive developmental disorder–not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) into the one category of ASD. Autism spectrum disorder is present early in… Read more Autism Spectrum Disorder
Angelman Syndrome
Angelman syndrome is a genetic disorder that causes developmental delay and neurological problems. Angelman syndrome is thought to occur in about 1 in 15,000 births. The United States and Canada have an estimated 5,000-10,000 individuals living with Angelman syndrome. What causes Angelman syndrome? Individuals with Angelman syndrome usually are missing a gene on the 15th… Read more Angelman Syndrome
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
ADHD occurs in 8% to 10% of school-age children. Primary characteristics include challenges with staying focused and paying attention, controlling behavior, and managing activity level. ADHD is about 3 times more common in boys than in girls and occurs across all racial, ethnic, and social groups. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention… Read more Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)