Areas of work > Learning Disability

In an individual with a learning disability a variety of factors can combine to affect nutritional status including problems with communication, imparied cognitive skills, poor social skills, behavioural problems, altered activity levels, coexisting physical disabilities and side-effects of medication.  These factors affect individuals to a greater or lesser degree depending on type and severity of disability. There are also direct effects on metabolism associated with some syndromes and conditions which cause learning disability.  In addition this group are at risk of developing conditions, such as diabetes, which affect the general population.  Some conditions are more common in those with a learning disability such as swallowing problems (dysphagia) resulting in an increased use of altered consistency diets and entral feeding within this group.

 

The dietitian working within a learning disability team is vital in translating complicated advice into practical guidance for people with a learning disability and their carers.  Following the closure of the long stay learning disability hospitals many individuals with severe learning disabilities are now cared for in the community by non-nursing staff and so the training requirements both for health promotion and mangement of specific conditions by diet is large and ongoing.  As many more people with a learning disability are now living independently in the community there is a huge area of work in providing general health promotion information in a way that is accessible to this group.

We are currently working to produce consensus statements in the following area's - Autism, Prader-Willi Syndrome, Obesity, Dysphagia and Enteral Feeding in the community.

 

The Nutritional Care of Adults with a Learning Disability in Care Settings

 /uploads/Adults_learning_disability_statement.pdf 

POMONA Website - Health Indicators for People with a Learning Disability

www.pomonaproject.org  

 

 SNDRI Presentation given at the Mental Health Group Study Day May 2008 explaining their role in the production of easy to understand diet sheet and information

/uploads/080512SNDRiPresentationforBDAMHG.pdf