Learning Disability News and Research

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Study explores social and emotional impact of Tourette syndrome in secondary schools

Secondary school can be a stressful enough time for any teenager, but for those living with Tourette Syndrome (TS) their neurological condition can present a whole new set of challenges.

3 Dec 2013

Young adults with ASDs have worse outcomes of employment and independent living

For young adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), making the transition from school to the first rites of independent adult life, including a first job and a home away from home, can be particularly challenging.

5 Sep 2013

Argininosuccinic aciduria (ASA) and gene therapy: an interview with Dr Julien Baruteau, UCL Institute for Women's Health, London

This rare genetic condition can theoretically affect patients at any age but symptoms are more often observed in childhood and even uncommonly during the first days of life.

2 Sep 2013

'Mental Health Pathway' for paramedics to provide appropriate care for mentally ill patients

Ruth Elliot, Senior Lecturer in the department of Mental Health and Learning Disability at the University of Huddersfield, has published an article discussing the need for a national 'Mental Health Pathway' to enable paramedics to provide the appropriate care for people who present mental health issues.

1 Aug 2013

National health and social care charity, Community Integrated Care, launches new five year strategy

National health and social care charity Community Integrated Care is proud to announce the launch of its new five year strategy, in which the organisation has committed to becoming ‘The UK’s Leading Health and Social Care Charity’.

From Community Integrated Care 29 Jul 2013

Healthcare staff should challenge their own assumptions to provide non-discriminatory care to autistic people

Healthcare staff need to challenge their own assumptions about what is 'normal' if they are to provide non-discriminatory care to autistic people, according to authors writing in the journal Learning Disability Practice.

7 Jun 2013

UCLA researchers identify abnormal brain networks in Fragile X syndrome

The genetic malady known as Fragile X syndrome is the most common cause of inherited autism and intellectual disability. Brain scientists know the gene defect that causes the syndrome and understand the damage it does in misshaping the brain's synapses - the connections between neurons. But how this abnormal shaping of synapses translates into abnormal behavior is unclear.

5 Jun 2013

Researchers establish link between abnormal structure of synapses and behavioral abnormalities of brain circuits in FXS

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a genetic malady that is the most common inherited cause of autism and intellectual disability. Brain scientists know the gene defect that causes FXS, and the damage it does-- misshaping the brain's synapses, the connections between neurons. But how that abnormal shaping of synapses translates to abnormal behavior is unclear.

4 Jun 2013

Study gives insight into underlying causes of specific learning disabilities

Up to 10 per cent of the population is affected by specific learning disabilities (SLDs), such as dyslexia, dyscalculia and autism, translating to two or three pupils in every classroom, a new study has found.

29 Apr 2013

Social care: an interview with Neil Matthewman, CEO Community Integrated Care

Community Integrated Care is one of the UK’s largest social and health care charities. We support over 2500 people with learning disabilities, mental health concerns, autism and age-related needs, living across England and Scotland.

From Community Integrated Care 17 Apr 2013

Social care charity CIC celebrates 25th anniversary

National social care charity Community Integrated Care celebrates its 25th anniversary.

From Community Integrated Care 18 Mar 2013

Breathing disorder tests for Down syndrome children to be investigated by researchers at the University of Southampton

Researchers at the University of Southampton are planning to investigate tests for a breathing disorder that affects babies and children who have Down syndrome while they sleep. They aim to provide the missing evidence so that doctors can introduce affordable and simple routine screening.

15 Mar 2013

Obstructive sleep apnea common in young cystic fibrosis children

Children with stable cystic fibrosis have an increased risk for obstructive sleep apnea, which could cause sleep disruption, researchers report.

2 Nov 2012

Women with learning disabilities left out of contraception decisions

Women with learning disabilities are frequently left out of decisions concerning contraception, and often use contraceptives despite not being sexually active, show the results of a UK survey.

16 Oct 2012

Good health helps children with stressful elementary to middle school transitions

Good health helps children with stressful transitions from elementary school to middle school, finds a new study in the Journal of Adolescent Health. Students with chronic conditions such as asthma, obesity, learning disabilities, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, and those with health-related needs, were noted to have lower academic performances.

14 Sep 2012

Tips for parents to help their kids get a smart start to the academic year

The first day of school always requires preparations -- notebooks, pens and a new set of clothes. But don't forget to prepare for your child's health, says Dr. Joan Bregstein, a physician in the Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine at NewYork-Presbyterian/Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital.

30 Aug 2012

Scientists discover important neural mechanism underlying dyslexia

To participate successfully in life, it is important to be able to read and write. Nevertheless, many children and adults have difficulties in acquiring these skills and the reason is not always obvious. They suffer from dyslexia which can have a variety of symptoms. Thanks to research carried out by Bego-a D-az and her colleagues at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Leipzig, a major step forward has been made in understanding the cause of dyslexia.

8 Aug 2012

Students with 'observable' disabilities more likely to bully, be bullied in school

Students receiving special-education services for behavioral disorders and those with more obvious disabilities are more likely to be bullied than their general-education counterparts - and are also more likely to bully other students, a new study shows.

3 Jul 2012

$27 million received to speed new treatments for disabling neurological disorder

The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine has announced receipt of a five-year, $27 million gift earmarked to fast-track the development of therapies to treat tumors associated with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), a common and often debilitating neurogenetic disorder that causes tumors called plexiform neurofibromas to grow on nerves anywhere in the body.

11 Jun 2012

Study explores effects of letter spacing on the reading ability of dyslexic children

Increasing the spacing between characters and words in a text improves the speed and quality of dyslexic children's reading, without prior training. They read 20% faster on average and make half as many errors. This is the conclusion reached by a French-Italian research team, jointly headed by Johannes Ziegler of the Laboratoire de Psychologie Cognitive.

8 Jun 2012