Talitha Kinslow
Introduction
This essay will be discussing the additional needs of two individuals who are a part of a case
study. Case study one discusses Rebecca Brown, an eight-year-old female involved in a
road traffic accident when she was five-years-old years old. The incident resulted in
Rebecca sustaining a fractured spine resulting in no movement below her cervical cord.
Case study two discusses Ben Grace, a fifty-two-year-old male living with Down's Syndrome
and type 2 diabetes. Ben has a learning age of eight and requires support with all aspects of
daily living.
Learning disabilities are along a spectrum consisting of mild, moderate, severe and
profound; these types of disabilities can be used to assess the type of care someone needs
and the amount of care they require.
For example, a mild learning disability is defined as someone who can usually
communicate well; the individual will usually have basic educational skills and live a
relatively independent life. However, an individual with a mild learning disability may need
support when learning and understanding complex and abstract ideas and concepts and
with tasks such as sorting out finances.
Mild learning disabilities are often undiagnosed because individuals can live a 'normal' and
independent life with a mild learning disability. Mild learning disabilities include dyslexia,
ADHD, dyscalculia and more.
Moderate learning disabilities are defined as individuals who are likely to have some
language skills which allow them to communicate about what support they need. However,
individuals may need some support caring for themselves; this may involve taking the
individual to health care appointments and ensuring they have taken any medication they
may have. Despite this, many individuals with a moderate learning disability can carry out
day to day tasks. (National Association of Disability Practitioners, 2020)
Severe learning disabilities can be defined as someone who uses basic words and
gestures to communicate their needs; this is because they may not be able to use words or
complex words. Many people who have severe learning disabilities need high levels of
support with day to day living; this would involve cooking, cleaning, taking the individual
shopping and helping them with their finances. This can link to Ben, as he lives in a group
setting where there is everyday support. In addition to this, some individuals who have
severe learning disabilities also have mobility needs, so they may need support moving
around; this may be helping them with a wheelchair. However, many individuals with severe
learning disabilities can still take care of their own personal needs and care. (National
Association of Disability Practitioners, 2020)
Profound learning disabilities suggests that someone has a severely limited
understanding of communication and will need support in everyday life. Many individuals
with profound learning disabilities will use non-verbal communication; this may be grunting
when uncomfortable or rocking back and forth. It is also common for these individuals to
have more than one disability; an individual may also have vision and hearing impairments,
epilepsy, and autism.
Individuals with profound learning disabilities will need constant support; they will need to
have support workers who can physically, emotionally, intellectually, financially and possibly
socially. In addition, they will more than likely need help with personal care, ensuring they
are clean and staying healthy, and ensuring they are not a risk to themselves, as the
individual would not have the cognitive ability to take note of what is harmful. (National
Association of Disability Practitioners, 2020)
Overall, individuals with Down's syndrome will generally take longer to learn new skills and
understand new information. This means that when Ben was developing and growing, it may
have taken him longer to learn skills such as talking, walking, and possibly gross and fine
, motor skills as they are quite complex to understand. Despite this, each individual with
Down's syndrome are still individual and will learn new skills at their own pace and time.
Both profound and severe relates to Ben, as when Ben was growing up, it is more than likely
that he would have struggled to reach generalised milestones; milestones "represent what
an average child can do around a particular age" (Cherry, 2021). We can see this in the
case study as he has a learning age of eight and requires support with all aspects of living.
Ben would have struggled to hit milestones, including cognitive (educational, thinking solving
problems), emotional and social (interaction) milestones (Cherry, 2021). This is shown
because, after the age of eight, his mental abilities came to a stop. In addition to this, Ben
may have found it hard to socialise with other children who do not have learning difficulties,
as other children may not have understood at a young age how severe Bens learning
difficulties are.
Because of this, Ben may have been encouraged to go to a school where individuals can
receive a holistic approach to education. This would allow Ben to have one-on-one support
and education tailored to his mental and cognitive abilities.
How Down's Syndrome is caused:
Several reasons and or factors can cause disabilities; in regards to Ben Grace, who has
Down's syndrome, also known as Trisomy 21, he would have been diagnosed from a very
young age. Down's syndrome is a condition where an individual has an extra chromosome;
a chromosome is a structure found within the nucleus of a cell that is made up of proteins
and DNA, which is organised into genes; there are usually 23 pairs of chromosomes in a
cell, 46 in total (National Cancer Institute, 2021). the chromosomes determine how a baby's
body will form and function when it develops during pregnancy and after birth.
There are different types of Down's syndrome; 95% of people with Down's Syndrome have
Trisomy 21, which is when each cell in the body had three separate copies of chromosome
21 instead of 2.
Translocation Down's Syndrome occurs in around 3% of the individuals who have Down's
Syndrome; this occurs when an extra part or a whole chromosome 21 is present; however, it
is attached to a different chromosome, rather than a separate chromosome on its own.
Finally, Mosaic Down's Syndrome, which is present in around 2% of the individuals with
Down's Syndrome, is where there is a mixture of extra chromosomes and not. For example,
some individuals cells have three copies of chromosome 21, but other cells have the usual
two copies. Due to this, some of the features of Down's syndrome, such as the facial
features, are not as present as other individuals with Down's Syndrome. (CDC, 2021)
Although the extra chromosome that causes Down's Syndrome is inherited from the mother
or father, it does not mean that the parent had Down's syndrome, nor are they a carrier for
the gene. Instead, down's syndrome occurs spontaneously, which causes the genetic
change in the sperm or egg, which then develops the baby with Down's syndrome.
Diagnostic Procedures
Screening tests are commonly used to diagnose disorders such as Down's syndrome. A
screening test is a way to determine if people are at a higher risk for a health problem. The
benefit of a screening test is that a care plan and treatment can be organised quickly, and
therefore that individual will have the best care and information ready as soon as possible.
During pregnancy, the NHS offers screening tests during pregnancy for infectious diseases
such as HIV, screenings for Down's syndrome, Patau's syndrome and Edward's syndrome,
screenings for sickle cell disease and screenings for physical abnormalities (NHS Choices,
2021).
Introduction
This essay will be discussing the additional needs of two individuals who are a part of a case
study. Case study one discusses Rebecca Brown, an eight-year-old female involved in a
road traffic accident when she was five-years-old years old. The incident resulted in
Rebecca sustaining a fractured spine resulting in no movement below her cervical cord.
Case study two discusses Ben Grace, a fifty-two-year-old male living with Down's Syndrome
and type 2 diabetes. Ben has a learning age of eight and requires support with all aspects of
daily living.
Learning disabilities are along a spectrum consisting of mild, moderate, severe and
profound; these types of disabilities can be used to assess the type of care someone needs
and the amount of care they require.
For example, a mild learning disability is defined as someone who can usually
communicate well; the individual will usually have basic educational skills and live a
relatively independent life. However, an individual with a mild learning disability may need
support when learning and understanding complex and abstract ideas and concepts and
with tasks such as sorting out finances.
Mild learning disabilities are often undiagnosed because individuals can live a 'normal' and
independent life with a mild learning disability. Mild learning disabilities include dyslexia,
ADHD, dyscalculia and more.
Moderate learning disabilities are defined as individuals who are likely to have some
language skills which allow them to communicate about what support they need. However,
individuals may need some support caring for themselves; this may involve taking the
individual to health care appointments and ensuring they have taken any medication they
may have. Despite this, many individuals with a moderate learning disability can carry out
day to day tasks. (National Association of Disability Practitioners, 2020)
Severe learning disabilities can be defined as someone who uses basic words and
gestures to communicate their needs; this is because they may not be able to use words or
complex words. Many people who have severe learning disabilities need high levels of
support with day to day living; this would involve cooking, cleaning, taking the individual
shopping and helping them with their finances. This can link to Ben, as he lives in a group
setting where there is everyday support. In addition to this, some individuals who have
severe learning disabilities also have mobility needs, so they may need support moving
around; this may be helping them with a wheelchair. However, many individuals with severe
learning disabilities can still take care of their own personal needs and care. (National
Association of Disability Practitioners, 2020)
Profound learning disabilities suggests that someone has a severely limited
understanding of communication and will need support in everyday life. Many individuals
with profound learning disabilities will use non-verbal communication; this may be grunting
when uncomfortable or rocking back and forth. It is also common for these individuals to
have more than one disability; an individual may also have vision and hearing impairments,
epilepsy, and autism.
Individuals with profound learning disabilities will need constant support; they will need to
have support workers who can physically, emotionally, intellectually, financially and possibly
socially. In addition, they will more than likely need help with personal care, ensuring they
are clean and staying healthy, and ensuring they are not a risk to themselves, as the
individual would not have the cognitive ability to take note of what is harmful. (National
Association of Disability Practitioners, 2020)
Overall, individuals with Down's syndrome will generally take longer to learn new skills and
understand new information. This means that when Ben was developing and growing, it may
have taken him longer to learn skills such as talking, walking, and possibly gross and fine
, motor skills as they are quite complex to understand. Despite this, each individual with
Down's syndrome are still individual and will learn new skills at their own pace and time.
Both profound and severe relates to Ben, as when Ben was growing up, it is more than likely
that he would have struggled to reach generalised milestones; milestones "represent what
an average child can do around a particular age" (Cherry, 2021). We can see this in the
case study as he has a learning age of eight and requires support with all aspects of living.
Ben would have struggled to hit milestones, including cognitive (educational, thinking solving
problems), emotional and social (interaction) milestones (Cherry, 2021). This is shown
because, after the age of eight, his mental abilities came to a stop. In addition to this, Ben
may have found it hard to socialise with other children who do not have learning difficulties,
as other children may not have understood at a young age how severe Bens learning
difficulties are.
Because of this, Ben may have been encouraged to go to a school where individuals can
receive a holistic approach to education. This would allow Ben to have one-on-one support
and education tailored to his mental and cognitive abilities.
How Down's Syndrome is caused:
Several reasons and or factors can cause disabilities; in regards to Ben Grace, who has
Down's syndrome, also known as Trisomy 21, he would have been diagnosed from a very
young age. Down's syndrome is a condition where an individual has an extra chromosome;
a chromosome is a structure found within the nucleus of a cell that is made up of proteins
and DNA, which is organised into genes; there are usually 23 pairs of chromosomes in a
cell, 46 in total (National Cancer Institute, 2021). the chromosomes determine how a baby's
body will form and function when it develops during pregnancy and after birth.
There are different types of Down's syndrome; 95% of people with Down's Syndrome have
Trisomy 21, which is when each cell in the body had three separate copies of chromosome
21 instead of 2.
Translocation Down's Syndrome occurs in around 3% of the individuals who have Down's
Syndrome; this occurs when an extra part or a whole chromosome 21 is present; however, it
is attached to a different chromosome, rather than a separate chromosome on its own.
Finally, Mosaic Down's Syndrome, which is present in around 2% of the individuals with
Down's Syndrome, is where there is a mixture of extra chromosomes and not. For example,
some individuals cells have three copies of chromosome 21, but other cells have the usual
two copies. Due to this, some of the features of Down's syndrome, such as the facial
features, are not as present as other individuals with Down's Syndrome. (CDC, 2021)
Although the extra chromosome that causes Down's Syndrome is inherited from the mother
or father, it does not mean that the parent had Down's syndrome, nor are they a carrier for
the gene. Instead, down's syndrome occurs spontaneously, which causes the genetic
change in the sperm or egg, which then develops the baby with Down's syndrome.
Diagnostic Procedures
Screening tests are commonly used to diagnose disorders such as Down's syndrome. A
screening test is a way to determine if people are at a higher risk for a health problem. The
benefit of a screening test is that a care plan and treatment can be organised quickly, and
therefore that individual will have the best care and information ready as soon as possible.
During pregnancy, the NHS offers screening tests during pregnancy for infectious diseases
such as HIV, screenings for Down's syndrome, Patau's syndrome and Edward's syndrome,
screenings for sickle cell disease and screenings for physical abnormalities (NHS Choices,
2021).
