Page 7 - Index

THIRD
ONE 54%
OF PATIENTS WERE
OF ID PATIENTS
IDENTIFIED WITH
SUFFER WITH
DYSPHAGIA
MENTAL HEALTH
people with intellectual disabilities have a mental health problem28
.
For these patients, dysphagia is both common29 and a significant issue30
.
Improved management of dysphagia in
such patients could reduce associated
health conditions, hospital admissions
and premature death29
.
Prevalence of swallowing difficulties
The prevalence of swallowing difficulties in patients within acute
and community mental health settings is greater than that of the
general population and may be a part of the disease or a side
effect of the medication24. Dysphagia can be intrinsic to a
mental health problem25 and in one study, approximately a third
of patients with a variety of mental health disorders were identified
with dysphagia26
.
Mental health problems amongst adults with intellectual disabilities
are quite common and more than double the rate of mental health
problems in the general population27. One study found that 54% of
5