People with intellectual disabilities are living longer and are increasingly diverse, with health and care needs that are varied and complex. Without changes to funding, services have found it difficult to respond to needs and wishes... data were collected through questionnaire, focus groups and individual interviews from intellectual disability service managers, direct care staff and older people with intellectual disabilities and family members. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
This study aimed to determine the relationship between IDD levels, eating, drinking and swallowing problems and nutritional status in adults with IDDs. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
The prevalence and risk factors of cholelithiasis in individuals with severe or profound intellectual and motor disabilities (SPIMD) are poorly characterised. Thus, we aimed to investigate the prevalence and risk determinants of cholelithiasis in a cohort with SPIMD under medical care in a residential facility. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
Some autistic people describe trying to hide autistic behaviour and seem more neurotypical. Researchers called this ‘social camouflaging’ and have linked it with mental health difficulties. We used a step-by-step approach to identify research where autistic people talk about social camouflaging to explore the relationship between camouflaging and poor mental health. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
After receiving an autism diagnosis, psychoeducation (i.e. information regarding autism) is a first intervention. We adjusted a psychoeducation program that was originally developed by the Dutch Association for Autism for older adults to enhance its feasibility and efficacy in later life. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
...it is currently unexplored how social touch experiences of autistic adults are modulated by these factors. We sought to address this... To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
This study compared this scene construction ability between autistic (N = 55) and neurotypical (N = 63) adults. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
Consistent with a “double empathy” framework, autistic adults often experience better interaction with autistic compared with non-autistic partners. Here, we examined whether non-autistic observers detect differences in autistic interactions relative to non-autistic and mixed ones. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
Several measures have been developed to assess loneliness in the general population. Here, we examined if, and how accurately, widely-used measures capture the experience of loneliness in autistic adults. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
Examination of specific domains of social functioning could broaden the explanatory possibilities. We illustrate this for the domain of navigating social hierarchies. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
The aim of this research was to define the theoretical principles by which the gap between humanistic declarations and practice can be overcome...Further examination of the model and its application in practice is recommended. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
This article discusses the barriers related to breaking bad news to people with learning disabilities. It also describes several tools – generic and specific to the learning disability field – which healthcare professionals can use to inform and improve their practice in this area. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
More than half of all people with learning disabilities will die before they reach 65, prompting researchers to call for radical changes in the way they receive end of life care, an area that research indicates is poorly understood. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
This review aims to systematically identify and synthesise the published academic literature exploring cancer risk-factor and symptom awareness among people with IDs, carers and healthcare professionals. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
We sought to identify possible specific high-risk factors by examining the clinical characteristics of people with ID admitted to hospital with constipation. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
This article outlines factors that affect communication for people with learning disabilities during healthcare encounters, including communication challenges they may experience in relation to accessing health information and using digital technology. The article also explores strategies and tools nurses can implement to address these challenges and ensure effective communication with individuals. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
This study investigated differences in the clinical and demographic characteristics of individuals with intellectual disabilities delayed in assessment and treatment hospitals versus individuals who were not delayed. The study further investigated the clinical outcomes of the individuals whose discharge from the hospital was delayed. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
... this project aimed to explore how service users accessing a community learning disability team experienced waiting for psychological therapy. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
We reviewed the research so far to look at differences in Social Motor Synchrony (SMS) (the way we move together) between autistic people and people they interact with. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
... key question exists, which is whether an autism diagnosis is always and entirely beneficial. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
In this study, we created a survey in which we asked a relatively large sample of autistic and non-autistic people to rate their own and others’ mindreading abilities in relation to autistic and non-autistic others, respectively. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
We examined whether obesity in middle-aged adults with Down syndrome is also related to an adverse metabolic profile. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
A systematic search was conducted across three databases (Ovid Embase, PsycInfo and Medline) and returned all papers comparing sleep in people with intellectual disabilities to a control group, published since the last meta-analysis on the topic. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
This study presents a strengths-based framework for designing virtual reality experiences tailored to the needs and abilities of autistic individuals. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
This systematic review examined 26 studies that implemented interventions to reduce stigma toward autistic people... To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
We aimed to explore the experiences of autistic people accessing healthcare, shining a light on the complex interplay of relevant factors and to explain, at least in part, the possible reasons underling health disparities and adverse health outcomes. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
Intimate partner violence and sexual assault are under-researched experiences in autistic people’s lives. Recent research, however, has shown that autistic people are more likely to have been victimized than non-autistic people. This research, therefore, sought to explore the firsthand accounts of a range of autistic people about intimate partner violence and sexual assault. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
The primary goal of this study was to examine the feasibility and effectiveness of incorporating habit training into an app-based meditation intervention to maintain reductions in depressive symptoms among autistic adults. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
Shared Lives (adult placement) is a model of community-based support where an adult who needs support and/or accommodation moves into or regularly visits the home of an approved Shared Lives carer...This article presents findings from outcome measures focused on well-being for a sample of 39 people supported by Shared Lives in England. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
In this research, we wanted to understand more about Autistic people’s experiences of inertia and to work out what things might influence these experiences. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
This study took place to find out what support autistic people need and want after receiving their diagnosis. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
There are large differences in the level of demographic, psychological, and lifestyle characteristics between autistic and non-autistic adults but also among autistic people. Our goal was to test whether these differences correspond to differences in underlying relationships between these characteristics—also referred to as network structure—to determine which characteristics (and relationships between them) are important. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
This study aims to understand whether social self-efficacy relates to mental well-being in autistic adults, and whether social identity plays a role in this relationship. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
We explored the relationship between adaptive behaviour and cognitive function, executive function, and neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric comorbidities in our 3q29del study sample, and we compared subjects with 3q29del with published data on fragile X syndrome, 22q11.2 deletion syndrome and 16p11.2 deletion and duplication syndromes. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
Evaluating intelligence using conventional tools is very complex in patients with Prader–Willi Syndrome (PWS), as it is time consuming and requires levels of care that are difficult to sustain for this population. Therefore, we explore the ability of a brief test to assess intelligence in these patients. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
Restrictions should only be used when there is immediate risk of harm – not to enable work to be done more quickly or easily. Such practices used inappropriately could infringe people’s human rights. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
Multiple factors can increase the risk of aspiration pneumonia for people with learning disabilities. Find out what symptoms are red flags and what to do if you are concerned. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
This article explains the causes and consequences of cortical visual impairment, describes visual perception issues that commonly arise from ocular/retinal or cortical causes, and outlines how learning disability nurses can detect the presence of visual perception issues in service users. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
This study aimed to understand the lived experiences of people with learning disabilities taking part in a gardening group. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
Forty autistic adults participated in a study combining global positioning system community participation measures with survey and interview data on service use, including which services are most helpful in adulthood, barriers to services, and service needs. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
This study compared the neuromuscular control of the masticatory muscles in middle-aged, PWID and older adults. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
The aim of the present paper is to investigate the association between specific cognitive dysfunctions and specific psychiatric symptoms and syndromes in people with IDD. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
The aim of this study was to compare the level of emotional functioning as assessed with the SED-S with the SAED, SED-R2 and SEO-Lukas. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
The authors concluded: –
This systematic review and meta-analysis provide evidence of a significant prevalence of bruxism among individuals with DS. The findings highlight the association of bruxism with other oral health issues and specific chromosomal abnormalities. Comprehensive oral health assessments, including diagnostic procedures like Polysomnography, are essential for addressing the unique oral health needs of individuals with DS'
In a sample of 724 adults from five study sites in three countries, a confirmatory factor analysis with a one-factor model was conducted on the entire dataset as well as in different subgroups. Furthermore, internal consistency was investigated using Cronbach's alpha. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
...this study explored how specific interests can help autistic individuals navigate social communication and interaction. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
Traditionally, service provision for neurodevelopmental disorders such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, intellectual disability and autism – where this has been available – has focused on the needs of children, but there is now increased understanding of neurodevelopmental disorders as lifelong conditions, often with an ongoing need for health and social care provision. Medical and allied professionals frequently report limited education in neurodevelopmental disorders both during their training and post-qualification. This article gives an overview of theoretical and practical considerations for training of psychiatrists and allied healthcare professionals in relation to neurodevelopmental disorders. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
Despite numerous UK government policies aimed at reducing the number of autistic people and people with an intellectual disability in mental health hospitals, little progress has been made, with many experiencing lengthy stays that offer little therapeutic benefit. Once admitted, people are at risk of restrictive interventions and significantly delayed discharge, resulting in trauma. This article draws on the cases of four people to illustrate the limitations of current mental health system approaches to the challenges experienced by autistic people and people with an intellectual disability. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
Supported decision-making may increase self-determination among adults with intellectual disabilities by encouraging and empowering them to make decisions about their lives to the greatest extent possible. The aim of this study was to explore the perceptions and experiences of mothers of adults with intellectual disabilities in Ireland of providing support in decision-making. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
...the aim of this study was to establish cut-off points for levels of isometric handgrip and low limb explosive strength in children, adolescents and adults, which identify overweight/obesity in people with IDs and their respective associations. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.