Meeting the health care needs of school-age children with intellectual disability.
Intellectual disability (ID) is common and is known to affect 1-3% of the population. There is a lack of medical epidemiological data in Ireland for this group. Such data is necessary in providing the evidence base to plan for rehabilitation services, provide ongoing health care and consider prevention strategies. We report on the underlying diagnosis and co-morbidities of the school-age children in one Health Service Executive area. There were 97 children. Forty seven (48.5%) of the children have a chromosomal or genetic explanation for their disability, 16 (16.5%) have an environmental cause and 34 (35%) have no identified cause. The children have complex medical needs: 35 (36%) have epilepsy and 34 (35%) have gastro-intestinal problems; 24 (25%) have a respiratory condition and 15 (15%) have congenital heart disease. Thirty one (32%) and 30 (31%) have visual and hearing impairment respectively. Expansion of the National Intellectual Disability Database should be explored to include the medical epidemiological data to inform the future development of services for Intellectually Disabled.
McBrien
J
J
The Children's University Hospital, Temple Street, Dublin 1. jacqueline.mcbrien@hse.ie
Macken
S
S
D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012574:Schools; D013334:Students; D055815:Young Adult