Report on Intellectual Disability: Communication and Stigma (ID2)

This report provides an overview of intellectual disability (ID), focusing on communication strategies and the impact of stigmatization within healthcare settings. It begins by discussing various communication approaches, including pre-symbolic, symbolic, verbal, and pragmatic communication, along with the use of tools like Talking Mats and voice output interaction aids. A case example of a 41-year-old man with ID and cerebral palsy illustrates the practical application of these strategies. The report then explores the negative effects of stigmatization by healthcare professionals, highlighting how it can lead to poorer patient outcomes, reduced quality of life, and decreased access to care. The report references studies on the impact of stigma, including stress and discrimination, and discusses how these factors can affect patient adherence to treatment and their overall well-being. The report concludes by mentioning the National Disability Strategy 2010-2020 and its aim to improve access to health services for individuals with disabilities.

Running Head: ID 0
Intellectual disability
[Document subtitle]
JANUARY 31, 2020
[Company name]
[Company address]

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Contents
Intellectual disability.............................................................................................................................2
Communication strategy....................................................................................................................2
Impact of stigmatization........................................................................................................................4
References.............................................................................................................................................7

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Intellectual disability
Communication strategy
Individuals with intellectual disability commonly have very restricted health literacy
and nurses and other healthcare providers have the responsibility to search methods to assist
the patient make proper use of facilities have recommended three different features to health
literateness. Frist is the patient’s ability to read and comprehend the health-related
information, second is the individual’s ability to involve in the healthcare process, and thirst
is the elimination by the healthcare system of unwanted complexity and obstacles to the
patient’s knowledge and involvement. There are different communication strategies can be
used to improve his health literacy such as pre-symbolic communication, symbolic
communication, verbal communication, and pragmatics (Boardman, Bernal & Hollins, 2014).
Example of case
Ronald is an old man aged 41 year who presently lives in a group home with 5 other
individuals with intellectual disabilities. In last few years he has lived in numerous
institutional and different group-home settings. However, Ron is too seriously incapacitated
to work in a protected workshop, his caretakers do regularly take him outside to numerous
community happenings and events. He appears to greatly like "getting out, "and his
concierges identified that he appears much more attentive afterward these "excursions."
Anoxia (lack of oxygen) was the main cause of Ron's psychological retardation at birth which
led to "serious, profuse brain impairment." He similarly has cerebral palsy which adversely
restricts the movement of his arms and legs. He has very low knowledge about the disease
and related problem. hearing ability of Ronald is also impaired. The most recent assessment
of Ron's psychological abilities which was directed in the 20s suggested a general functioning
level of about 3 years, eight months. Though, it is problematic to regulate what he really

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knows since he has no talking ability, and the cerebral palsy issue makes it unbearable for
him to use symbol language. His solitary form of communication is through the use of
symbols.
Individuals who simply use pre-symbolic communication will be incapable to
understand or apply symbolic methods of communication for example speech, pictures,
photos or symbols. They will mainly depend on the persons around them to perform their
requirements and to understand their vocal functions, facial expressions and the body
language. Around 60 per cent of individuals with intellectual incapacities are capable to use
symbolic approaches (Hutchins & Prelock, 2014). Numerous individuals process graphic data
more effortlessly than auditory data, particularly when feel worried in an unacquainted
medical setting. Physicians and nurses need to be prepared to act with whatever graphic
material is accessible to support an individual’s communication ability and remembrance.
This might comprise magazine images and their personal drawings, nonetheless purpose-
intended documents, leaflets and the internet possessions are now voluntarily accessible.
Most individuals with intellectual incapacities have mild incapacities and, though they will
differ in their capability to comprehend verbal, pictorial or symbol linguistic and to express
their feelings, they will apply speech or symbol as their main form of interaction to learn
about the disease and its management strategy (Carr et al., 2016). It is still significant to
check for mutual understanding. Pragmatics is another strategy to enhance patient’s literacy.
It has been distinct as ‘how people use their interaction abilities with numerous individuals
and in dissimilar situations. It includes the way communication strategy is practiced to
describe methods, correct time and person to talk, and for what reason’. Pragmatics covers
different areas as: beginning; topic selection, preservation and closing; turn-taking; restoring
conversational failure; and application of suitable conversational style. Some of the tools like
talking mats can also be used. Talking Mats is a technique of involving individuals that

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numerous clinicians find supportive and easy to apply (Sharby, Martire & Iversen, 2015).
They deliver a method of conversing and recording a person’s views and thoughts, and can be
applied to get information or support decision-making. The method has been used effectively
with a variety of persons who have problems in communication, counting those with bodily
and intellectual incapacities (Hutchins & Prelock, 2014). Voice output interaction aids are the
electronic interaction devices which permit the user to transport a message using generated or
recorded dialogue. Typically, software for communication is installed on to mainstream
hardware for example laptops, though several organizations still manufacture devoted
communication assistances. Intensive communication is a method to communicating with
individuals with profound and numerous intellectual incapacities and/or autism. The therapist
involves emotionally by detecting and responding to the individual’s exclusive body
language, counting their breathing, actions and sounds. The method builds on the recognized
ways that parent’s interaction with pre- verbal new-borns. The purpose is to avoid different
processing problems linked with other efforts to interact and to seek purpose in the person’s
behaviour (Brady et al., 2016).
Impact of stigmatization
Recently consideration has turned in the direction of mental health professionals.
Stigmatising behaviour towards individuals with intellectual disability problems are also
reported even within the psychological health professions. Maximum nurses seen individuals
with ID as more problematic to care for than individuals with physical incapacities since they
would less effortlessly comply with requirements, would be additional easily upset, would be
additional emotional, perhaps violent and less supportive (Ditchman et al., 2016). Ascriptions
of ID different from the ascriptions of other medicinal conditions. Therapy service providers
view ID as the utmost stable disorder not under individual control than depression, cocaine
dependence, cancer, AIDS or other conditions like psychosis. That is, individuals with ID

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were not detained accountable for their disorder and were similarly not probable to advantage
from treatment or to improve. Mainstream health care providers reported stress and an
absence of confidence in delivering care for persons with ID. This stigmatizing behaviour of
healthcare professional can deteriorate patient’s condition. Stigmatizing behaviour of health
care professional can patient’s quality of life (Pelleboer‐Gunnink et al., 2016). Individuals
from stigmatised groups may be exposed to stress resulting from discrimination by health
care professionals, such as angry behaviour or bullying. Stress subordinate to stigma and
discrimination has been linked with opposing physiological changes that can subsidise to
health problems for example fluctuations to blood pressure and augmented cortisol levels.
increased levels of stigma have also been linked with lower obedience to psychosocial
interferences for instance vocational reintegration, social skills exercise, cognitive
behavioural therapy and family therapy. Stigmatizing behaviour of health care providers
towards patient’s with intellectual disability can increase the probability of self stigma and
reduce the self reporting behaviour of the patient (Schalock, 2014). This reduces the chances
to early detection of any issues related to physical or mental problem. Stigma posed by health
care providers can also trigger shame felt by the family members of the patient. Stigma in the
healthcare setting can harm its image and hinders the patient’s trust development in the
setting. These problems create barricades through such ways as postponements in help-
seeking, withdrawal of disease management, suboptimal therapeutic associations, patient
safety anxieties, and inferior quality mental and bodily care. For instance, expected stigma
from healthcare professionals has been recognised as a factor in individual’s reluctance to
pursue assistance for a mental disease. Conceded patient–provider associations and initial
termination of disease management are also the consequences. Poorer bodily care for persons
with mental diseases is another impact of stigmatization. Individuals with lived experience of
a psychological issues commonly report challenges to receiving the physical care

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requirements met, counting not having their indications taken seriously when requiring care
for non- psychological health anxieties (Krahn & Fox, 2014). National disability strategy
2010-2020 is enabling people to easily accessing health care services for the intellectually
disabled individuals. It is a ten-year nationwide plan (2010-2020) for advancing the life
involvements of Australians with incapacity, their relatives and carers (NSW government,
2019). It pursues to substitute an inclusive community that allows individuals with disability
to achieve their possible as equal inhabitants. The NSW plan identifies the significance of
confirming access to typical services and opportunities so that individuals with disability can
have the similar rights and chances that other people take for granted, counting access to
health facilities (Department of Social services, 2019).

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References
Boardman, L., Bernal, J., & Hollins, S. (2014). Communicating with people with intellectual
disabilities: a guide for general psychiatrists. Advances in psychiatric
treatment, 20(1), 27-36.
Brady, N. C., Bruce, S., Goldman, A., Erickson, K., Mineo, B., Ogletree, B. T., ... &
Schoonover, J. (2016). Communication services and supports for individuals with
severe disabilities: Guidance for assessment and intervention. American journal on
intellectual and developmental disabilities, 121(2), 121-138.
Carr, A., Linehan, C., O'Reilly, G., Walsh, P. N., & McEvoy, J. (Eds.). (2016). The handbook
of intellectual disability and clinical psychology practice. Routledge.
Department of Social services (2019). Disability and carers. Retrieved from:
https://www.dss.gov.au/our-responsibilities/disability-and-carers/program-services/
for-people-with-disability
Ditchman, N., Kosyluk, K., Lee, E. J., & Jones, N. (2016). How stigma affects the lives of
people with intellectual disabilities: An overview. In Intellectual disability and
stigma (pp. 31-47). Palgrave Macmillan, London.
Hutchins, T. L., & Prelock, P. A. (2014). Using communication to reduce challenging
behaviors in individuals with autism spectrum disorders and intellectual
disability. Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am, 23(1), 41-55.
Krahn, G. L., & Fox, M. H. (2014). Health disparities of adults with intellectual disabilities:
what do we know? What do we do?. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual
Disabilities, 27(5), 431-446.

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NSW government (2019). National disability strategy. Retrieved from:
https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/disability/Pages/national-disability-strategy.aspx
Pelleboer‐Gunnink, H. A., Van Oorsouw, W. M. W. J., Van Weeghel, J., & Embregts, P. J.
C. M. (2017). Mainstream health professionals' stigmatising attitudes towards people
with intellectual disabilities: a systematic review. Journal of Intellectual Disability
Research, 61(5), 411-434.
Schalock, R. L. (2014). Intellectual disability. The Encyclopedia of Clinical Psychology, 1-7.
Sharby, N., Martire, K., & Iversen, M. D. (2015). Decreasing health disparities for people
with disabilities through improved communication strategies and
awareness. International journal of environmental research and public health, 12(3),
3301-3316.