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WHAT: IS INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY

Individuals with an intellectual disability have neurodevelopmental deficits characterised by limitations in intellectual functioning and adaptive behaviour.

These symptoms originate at birth and manifest before the age of 22 and can be associated with a considerable number of related and co-occurring issues, including mental health, neurodevelopmental, as well as neurological and medical conditions. 

People with intellectual disability in NSW face significant health inequalities, with higher rates of preventable deaths and hospital admissions, chronic illness, mental health issues, and preventable conditions. As GPs, simple changes in primary care can make a big difference.

Project GROW offers tailored training and resources designed to make it easier for primary care providers to support patients with intellectual disability, improving both patient care and your workflow.

Below is a list of resources to support GPs:

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care make these suggestions:

  • Be aware of any assumptions that you may make about the person and their life because of intellectual disability.
  • To help the person make health decisions, find out as much as you can about the person, how they communicate. their goals, preferences, likes and dislikes.
  • Consider which preventative health and screening options are appropriate for the person.
  • Work out what may be causing distress in the clinical setting.
  • Recognise that the person with intellectual disability may not express their experiences, such as pain, in words.
  • Don’t make presumptions about a person’s behaviour check what it means for them.
  • Avoid diagnostic overshadowing – assuming a presenting problem arises from the person’s disability.

Practical considerations:

  • Offer longer consultations to ensure clarity and understanding.
  • Focus on preventive care by scheduling regular health checks.
  • Engage caregivers in the conversation to enhance follow-through on care plans.
  • Provide easy-to-access reminders for appointments and follow-ups.

Project GROW created and collated key resources to assist clinicians in building confidence, treating and understanding their patients’ with ID’s needs and improve overall practice efficiencies and accessibility.