Primary Care of Adults with Developmental Disabilities: Canadian Consensus Guidelines
Canadian Family Physician
Sullivan, W. F., Berg, J. M., et al. (2011).
Canadian Family Physician, 57(5), 541-553, e154-e168.
This guideline provides recommendations for screening, assessment, and treatment of adults with developmental disabilities who reside in Canada. The target audience of this guideline is primary care providers.
Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services (Canada); Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (Canada); Surrey Place Centre (Canada); Surrey Place Centre Foundation (Canada)
The terms <i>developmental disabilities</i> and <i>intellectual disabilities</i> are used interchangeably in this guideline.
"Refer for hearing assessment if indicated by screening and for age-related hearing loss every 5 [years] after age 45" (Level III Evidence; p. 545).
"Seek interdisciplinary input from specialists in psychiatry, psychology, and speech-language pathology with expertise in [developmental disabilities] DD to help clarify diagnoses in patients with limited or unusual use of language" (Level III Evidence; p. 547).
Adults with developmental disabilities should be screened "at least annually for possible signs of swallowing difficulty and overt or silent aspiration ([e.g.], throat clearing after swallowing, coughing, choking, drooling, long mealtimes, aversion to food, weight loss, frequent chest infections). Refer as appropriate" (Level III Evidence; p. 546).
Office-based screening of hearing should be performed "annually as recommended for average-risk adults, and when symptoms or signs of ... hearing problems are noted, including changes in behaviour and adaptive functioning" (Level III Evidence; p. 545).
