Health Conditions, Learning, and Behavior

Abstract

Although this chapter addressed very specific medical conditions that can impact challenging behavior in people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), it would be wrong to assume that there are no other conditions that could similarly impact behavior. Unfortunately, learning how to tact or identify alterations in one's physiology can be a difficult skill to teach. In the absence of this repertoire, the focus of any support plan should be to routinely screen all individuals with IDD for any detectable causes of distress such as tooth abscess, ear infection, sinus infection, hernias, and fractured/broken limbs. For more subtle conditions that may not be readily apparent), patterns of behavior should be evaluated. Identifying patterns should not be limited to challenging behavior; however, as changes in adaptive behavior could also suggest the presence of medical conditions. Monitoring eating habits, sleep, grooming, social interaction, and engagement in leisure/preferred activities may suggest the need for further evaluation of potential medical conditions. By addressing both biological and environmental stimuli affecting behavior, challenging behaviors can be better understood and addressed successfully. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved)