Short Answer Questions

Chapter 14: Health promotion and people with learning disabilities

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1. What is a learning disability?

A significantly reduced ability to understand new or complex information, to learn new skills (impaired intelligence), with a reduced ability to cope independently (impaired social functioning). It started before adulthood, with a lasting effect on development.

2. What is the name of the 2001 White Paper that guides learning disability practice?

Valuing People: A New Strategy for Learning Disability for the 21st Century, Department of Health, 2001.

3. Why are the numbers of people with learning disabilities increasing?

• Increased survival rates of pre-term babies
• Increasing rates of various conditions such as foetal alcohol spectrum disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism
• The increasing longevity of people with learning disabilities

4. What is the leading cause of death in people with learning disabilities?

Respiratory disease.

5. What UK legislation puts a statutory duty on public services to make reasonable adjustments for people with disabilities?

The Equality Act 2010.

6. Give three examples of reasonable adjustments we can make when engaging in health promotion activities with someone who has a learning disability.

• Give enough time.
• Create a space to talk without distractions.
• Present information in a way that people can understand.
• Don't make assumptions about the need for health promotion based on the person's learning disability.
• Involve carers as well as the person with learning disabilities.

7. Who can give consent to medical treatment for an adult with learning disabilities?

Nobody! If they are found to lack capacity under the Mental Capacity Act 2005, then a best interest decision must be made.

8. Name a barrier that could prevent someone with a learning disability from losing weight. What would you do to address this?

Your answer might include:
• Lack of understanding of a balanced diet. You could provide accessible information and education.
• Lack of support and understanding of nutrition from carers. You could provide education for carers.
• Financial constraints. You could provide training and support for budgeting for meals
• Lack of opportunity for exercise. You could support the individual to access community facilities.
• Lack of other meaningful activity in life. You could provide information about and support to access local resources/networks/colleges.