The behaviour and wellbeing of children and adults with severe intellectual disability and complex needs: the Be-Well checklist for carers and professionals

Chris Oliver, Dawn Adams, Debbie Allen, Hayley Crawford, Mary Heald, Joanna Moss, Caroline Richards, Jane Waite, Alice Welham, Lucy Wilde, Kate Woodcock

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Abstract

Children and adults with severe intellectual disability and complex needs
often show behaviours and distress that carers and professionals find
difficult to identify causes for, manage and decrease. The prevailing
view is that these behaviours and distress are learned and consequently
interventions focus on behavioural techniques. In this article we summarise
the findings of research that indicate that behaviour and distress in
this population are influenced by transient and stable characteristics or
conditions that can interact with aspects of learning, be independent of
learning, and interact with each other. These transient and stable characteristics
or conditions are: pain and discomfort, sensory sensitivity, anxiety
and low mood, sleep problems, atypical emotional regulation,
specific cognitive difference, and differences in social behaviour. To aid
carers and professionals, we present a checklist of the elements of an
assessment process that covers these transient and stable characteristics
or conditions and other relevant influences on behaviour and distress
such as seizures,medication, learning and communication.We also draw
attention to the benefit of identifying the cause of intellectual disability to
inform the assessment process.
Original languageEnglish
JournalPaediatrics and Child Health
Publication statusPublished - 13 Oct 2020

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