Service use and access in young children with an intellectual disability or global developmental delay: Associations with challenging behaviour

Dawn Adams*, Louise Handley, Doug Simkiss, Emily Walls, Alison Jones, Martin Knapp, Renee Romeo, Chris Oliver

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background Challenging behaviours are frequently shown by children with an intellectual disability. This study documents service use within this population and explores its relationship with challenging behaviours and child and parent characteristics. Method Forty-nine mothers of young children with an intellectual disability or global developmental delay completed questionnaires focusing on child behaviour, parental mental health, and service use. Results Maternal mental health was not associated with services accessed. Cost of services accessed differed by topography of challenging behaviour for destruction of the environment or aggression. No differences were noted for self-injurious behaviour. Conclusion In this small study, topography of challenging behaviour impacts on the frequency and/or duration (and therefore cost) of community-based health care accessed. Behaviours that have external impact, such as aggression and destruction of the environment, are associated with a higher cost of services used, a pattern not noted for behaviours that had less external impact (e.g., self-injurious behaviour).

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1-10
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability
Early online date6 Oct 2016
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 6 Oct 2016

Keywords

  • behaviour problems
  • challenging behaviour
  • intellectual disability
  • service use

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Education
  • Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
  • General Psychology

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