Common Medical Disorders That
Affect The IDD Population
Developed By: Nicole Thomas, RN,BSN
Hill Country IDD Regional Support Team
What is IDD?
Developmental disabilities is a severe, chronic
disability due to a mental or physical impairment or
combination of mental and physical impairments
that start before a person is twenty-two years of
age, are expected to continue indefinitely, result in
substantial function limitations in major life
activities, and reflect the person’s need for life long
individualized support or assistance.
What is IDD?
Examples of developmental disabilities:
-Autism
-Behavior disorders
-Brain disorders
-Cerebral palsy
-Down syndrome
-Fetal alcohol syndrome
-Intellectual disability
-Spina Bifida
Common disorders among the IDD
population
• Certain disorders are strongly associated with adults
with IDD and are more prevalent among this
population.
• The fatal five refers to the top five disorders linked to
preventable deaths or health deterioration for
individuals with IDD
-Bowel Obstruction
-GERD
-Aspiration
-Dehydration
-Seizures
Bowel Obstruction
• Bowel obstruction is a blockage that keeps food or
liquid from passing through your small intestine or
large intestine
• Bowel obstruction is the most common cause of
preventable death within the community setting
• The most important cause of bowel obstruction is
the use of multiple prescribed medications with
constipating side effects
• Poor dietary habits low in fiber
• Lack of hydration
• Less than adequate active movement or exercise,
which is important to the gut
GERD
• GERD is the backing up of stomach contents, acids,
into the esophagus
• It is undiagnosed until major harm has been done
to the bottom of the esophagus
• Poor dietary habits, immobility , and improper
positioning also contribute greatly to the incidence
of GERD
• If untreated it can lead to silent or frank aspiration,
life-threatening GI bleeding, and esophageal
cancer
Aspiration
• Aspiration is the most common cause of death in
institutional settings, nursing homes, and group
settings for the persons with IDD.
• Aspiration may occur without anyone knowing if the
amount of food or liquid is small (Silent Aspiration).
• The first sign of aspiration may be trouble breathing or
signs of pneumonia.
• Poor body positioning, especially in the individuals
who cannot control their own movements or have
behavioral issues related to eating can increase the
risk of aspiration.
• Aspiration pneumonia is a common discharge
diagnosis following hospitalization.
Dehydration
• Dehydration occurs when you use or lose more
fluid than you take in, and your body doesn't have
enough water and other fluids to carry out its
normal functions. If you don't replace lost fluids,
you will get dehydrated.
• Individuals who do not swallow well are
particularly likely to refuse fluids or indicate fear
when they get them, often resulting in
dehydration.
• When fluids are restricted to prevent
incontinence resulting in constipation and
increased seizure activity as well as drug toxicity.
Seizures
• A seizure is a sudden surge of electrical activity in the brain.
• Seizures can occur in a pattern or are more likely to occur in
certain situations. Sometimes these connections are just by
chance, but other times it’s not. Keeping track of any factors
that may precipitate a seizure (seizure triggers) can help you
recognize when a seizure may be coming. For example:
-specific time of day or night
-fever
-stress
-sleep deprivation
-flashing lights
-alcohol
-menstrual cycle/hormonal changes -low blood sugar
-excessive caffeine
-medications
• Seizure deaths can occur from drug toxicity or from controlled
seizures
• Sudden unexplained death in epilepsy occurs on a fairly regular
basis.
Resources
McGowen, K. G. (2013, July). Health Risk
Identification | Health Risk Screening Inc. Retrieved
April 28, 2016, from http://hrstonline.com/