Sensory impairment and intellectual disability

Adults with intellectual disability have a higher prevalence of sensory impairment than the general population.

The high prevalence of autistic spectrum disorder within this population and deficits in communication skills make the assessment of sensory impairment a challenge. In practice, this usually results in a diagnostic overshadowing, as any change in behaviour may be attributed to intellectual disability, mental illness or autism rather than sensory impairment.

In this module, we consider the topic in detail with a view towards raising the awareness of healthcare professionals for the early detection and effective management of sensory impairment in adults with intellectual disability.