The State of the Science of Health and Wellness for Adults With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Abstract

Historically, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) have experienced health disparities related to several factors including: a lack of access to high quality medical care, inadequate preparation of health care providers to meet their needs, the social determinants of health (e.g., poverty, race and gender), and the failure to include people with IDD in public health efforts and other prevention activities. Over the past decade, a greater effort has been made to both identify and begin to address myriad health disparities experienced by people with IDD through a variety of activities including programs that address health lifestyles and greater attention to the training of health care providers. Gaps in the literature include the lack of intervention trials, replications of successful approaches, and data that allow for better comparisons between people with IDD and without IDD living in the same communities. Implications for future research needed to reduce health disparities for people with IDD include: better monitoring and treatment for chronic conditions common in the general population that are also experienced by people with IDD, an enhanced understanding of how to promote health among those in the IDD population who are aging, addressing the health needs of people with IDD who are not part of the disability service system, developing a better understanding of how to include people with IDD in health and wellness programs, and improving methods for addressing the healthcare needs of members of this group in an efficient and cost-effective manner, either through better access to general medical care or specialized programs.

Health Conditions and Functional Status in Adults with Autism: A Cross-Sectional Evaluation

“…Unfortunately, adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities frequently face many barriers to accessing health care and receiving recommended treatments for common problems. 17,[36][37][38][39][40] Thus, clinical recognition of these conditions becomes even more critical to providing comprehensive care to adults with ASD.…”

Telephone triage and seizure management for community-based ID/DD: A research synthesis

“…[35] Relevant studies were included in the systematic review, the data was extracted, followed by meta-aggregated findings. A rigorous methodological protocol was used as described by The Cochrane Collaboration.…”

Acceso y morbilidad hospitalaria en personas con trastornos del desarrollo intelectual

“…3 Hay estudios que afirman que las personas con TDI se enferman 2.5 veces más que la población general. 4 De esta forma, y con más frecuencia que en las personas sin TDI, pueden encontrarse problemas como la epilepsia, parálisis cerebral, alteraciones de los órga-nos de los sentidos, otitis, tapones de cerumen, caries, espasticidad y contracturas musculares, deformidad de huesos, alteraciones podológicas, estreñimiento, reflujo gastroesofágico, problemas de salud mental, lesiones relacionadas con las caídas, [5][6][7][8] etcétera. Hay investigaciones que concluyen que las personas con TDI viven hasta 20 años menos.…”