The Role of Music Therapy in Supporting Intellectually Disabled Youth in Senegal

Introduction: Music therapy is a practice for helping and supporting people with intellectual and relational difficulties. This study illustrated the benefits of music therapy for young people living with intellectual disabilities (YLID) in an African context. Methodology: This study investigated six young individuals with intellectual disabilities who had undergone three years of music therapy. They were participants in the inclusive non-academic training program at the National School of Arts in Dakar from 2017 to 2019. Data collection utilized individual interviews with the youths, evaluation grids from teachers and psychiatrists. Guardians provided informed consent along with the assent of the young participants. Results: The six young were aged between 18 and 30 years old, with an average age of 24.6 years. Four of the YLID were male. Three young people with intellectual disabilities had delayed psychomotor development. Observations revealed the beneficial influence of music therapy on the health and well-being of young individuals. Music played a role in alleviating stress and anxiety among youth with intellectual disabilities (YLID), enhancing their mood and mental health. It assisted in navigating challenging situations and heightened alertness among YLID. Additionally, music therapy contributed to improvements in dyslexia, fine and gross motor skills, and memory development among intellectually disabled youth, ultimately facilitating their integration into society. Conclusion: In light of our results, music therapy makes a major contribution to the empowerment of YLID. Engaging in musical activities helps young people connect with others through instrumental expression and a sense of accomplishment. By facilitating music therapy, it becomes possible to combat discrimination and stigmatization, thus promoting the social inclusion of intellectually disabled youth. Therefore, it is important to promote music therapy in Senegal to meet the needs of YLID.

Associated Factors of Dental Caries among Intellectually Disabled Persons in Specialized Centers of Ouagadougou

Introduction: Several studies have reported a high prevalence of dental caries among the people with intellectual disabilities. In order to identify the sociodemographic, clinical and behavioral factors associated with it, we conducted a study in specialized centers welcoming subjects with intellectual disabilities in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso). Objectives: The objective of this study was to identify the factors associated with it among intellectually disabled in the specialized centers of Ouagadougou. Methods: The study was cross-sectional analytical. The survey took place between November 2020 and January 2021 among people with intellectual disabilities in reception centers receiving a grant from the Ministry of Women, National Solidarity, Family and Humanitarian Action. Data collection was done with a questionnaire adapted from the World Health Organization (WHO) and dental caries was recorded according to WHO criteria in decayed, missing or filled teeth generating a DMF index. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with the presence of dental caries. Results: A total of 193 participants were included in the study with an average age of 12.4 years ± 7.9. The overall prevalence of caries measured with the DMF index was 58.6% 95% CI [51.2 - 65.8]. It was significantly associated with female gender (OR = 4.2;95% CI [1.4 - 12.5], p = 0,01), the clinical form of mental illness (epilepsy OR = 3.8 95%;CI [1.2 - 12.7], p = 0,02, trisomy OR = 5.0;95% CI [1.1 - 22.9], p = 0,03, motor autonomy OR = 0.2 95%;CI [0.1 - 0.7], p = 0,01) and at use of toothpaste OR = 9.33;95% CI [1.05 - 82.7], p = 0,04. Conclusion: Dental caries remains a very present pathology in most people living with an intellectual disability. Also, it is necessary to put in place prevention strategies to reduce its prevalence and improve access to oral care for these people.

Understanding Behavioral Manifestations of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in People with Intellectual Disabilities—A Qualitative Study

Background: There is limited knowledge about obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in people with intellectual disabilities (IDs). This paper describes the manifestation of compulsive behaviors associated with OCD at the behavioral level in people with ID in institutionalized settings. The aim was to gain nuanced insight into appropriate understanding and classification in this specific context, and derive implications for research and practice. Methods: Individual cases of people with ID (n = 7) were studied to assess compulsive symptoms through two days of on-site observation of the person with ID within the institution, guided group discussions (n = 28), and semi-structured interviews with key informants and caregivers of the person with ID (n = 20). Caregiver ratings of the compulsive behavior checklist were compiled. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results: All forms of OCD were present. Characteristics of compulsive behaviors in people with ID at the behavioral level included less complex and more obvious compulsive acts, immediate responses, signs of tension, motor restlessness, facial expression changes, repetition, need for predictability, time-consuming behaviors, and aggressive reactions when these acts were interrupted. Some of the compulsive behaviors corresponded to the ICD-11 OCD code 6B20, and others to compulsions as a psychological symptom (MB23.4). Conclusions: OCD may manifest atypically at the behavioral level in people with ID, posing significant challenges for accurate classification due to symptom ambiguity. Follow-up differential diagnostic studies are needed to more accurately identify and differentiate OCD symptoms in people with ID. Further, disorder-specific guidelines for recognizing OCD in people with ID are needed for institutionalized settings without psychiatric-psychotherapeutic expertise.

A Study of Radiation-Induced Instability for the Gene Locus Associated with Intellectual Disorders or Developmental Delays

Multiplex Ligation-Dependent Probe Amplification (MLPA) was used to study the integrity of the chromosomes for two WIL2-derived lymphoblastoid cell lines (TK6 and WTK1) in the presence and absence of ionizing radiation. WTK1 cells contain a p53 mutation, whereas the TK6 cell line has the native p53 tumor-suppressor gene. Each cell line was isolated pre- and post-irradiation (2 and 3 Gy) and analyzed by MLPA. Using probes that target specific regions on chromosomes associated with a distinct subset of microdeletions and microduplications either established or thought to be responsible for intellectual disability or developmental delay, we have demonstrated that WTK1 and TK6 are not impacted in the same way by irradiation. Instead, each cell line presents its own unique MLPA profile. The most notable differences are the appearance of nine unique probe signals only seen in WTK1 cells. These results are important in the study of how different cell lines can be affected in significantly different ways depending on the presence or absence of wild type p53.

Neuromuscular fatigue and recovery profiles in individuals with intellectual disability

Purpose: This study aimed to explore neuromuscular fatigue and recovery profiles im individuals with intellectual disability(ID) after exhausting submaximal contraction.Methods: Ten men with ID were compared to 10 men without ID. The evaluation of neuromuscular function consisted in brief(3 s) isometric maximal voluntary contraction(IMVC) of the knee extension superimposed with electrical nerve stimulation before, immediately after, and during33 min after an exhausting submaximal isometric task at 15% of the IMVC. Force, voluntary activation level(VAL), potentiated twitch(Ptw), and electromyography(EMG) signals were measured during IMVC and then analyzed.Results: Individuals with ID developed lower baseline IMVC, VAL, Ptw; and RMS/M_(max) ratio(root-mean-square value normalized to the maximal peak-to-peak amplitude of the M-wave) than controls(p < 0.05). Nevertheless, the time to task failure was significantly longer in ID vs. controls(p < 0.05). The 2 groups presented similar IMVC decline and recovery kinetics after the fatiguing exercise. However. individuals with ID presented higher VAL and RMS/M_(max) ratio declines but lower Ptw decline compared to those without ID. Moreover, individuals with ID demonstrated a persistent central fatigue but faster recovery from peripheral fatigue.Conclusion: These differences in neuromuscular fatigue profiles and recovery kinetics should be acknowledged when prescribing training programs for individuals with ID.

The influence of environment, predisposing, enabling and need variables on personal health choices of adults with intellectual disability

Attention to disease and risk factor management is increasingly a feature of people with intellectual disability (ID) as an augmented life expectancy also exposes a growing number of age-related diseases. An additional concern is little attention to date to physical activity, nutrition, access to social support and other personal health choices and to environmental issues such as the impact of access to social support and the implications of individual’s living arrangements. Method: Using a sample of 753 persons with ID from the intellectual disability supplement to the Irish longitudinal study on ageing (IDS-TILDA), forty three variables were grouped into environmental, predisposing, enabling, need and personal health choices clusters and hierarchical ordinary least squares regression examined the contribution of environmental, enabling, predisposing, need and all combinations of the sets of variables to personal health choices. Findings: Almost 32% of variance was explained primarily by need variables. Most significant relationships were with meeting up with family and friends (environmental), age, rating of health and worries about getting older (predisposing), having public health insurance and nursing who come into the home (enabling) and presence of stroke, chronic constipation, functional limitations, high assistance needs with activities of daily living (need). Discussion: Taken together, the groupings of variables from the Anderson Model explained a modest amount of variance in the pursuit of positive personal health choices by people with ID. More work is clearly needed in developing evidence-based interventions and strategies, and in understanding the relationship between positive personal health choices of people with ID and health outcomes.

Osteoporosis and People with Down Syndrome: A Preliminary Descriptive Examination of the Intellectual Disability Supplement to the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing Wave 1 Results

Background: People with Down syndrome (DS) are a high “at risk” group to develop osteoporosis. Increased morbidity associated with older age, higher prevalence of Alzheimer dementia, hypotonia, hypogonadism, and thyroid disease, are all features of DS and predispose this cohort to musculoskeletal complications. Methods: The Intellectual Disability Supplement to The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (IDS-TILDA) is a representative study of the aging of adults with intellectual disability in Ireland. The sample (N = 753) included 147 people with DS. Data was gathered on participants’ health status, behavioural health, health screenings and activities of daily living. The prevalence of osteoporosis and related risk factors among people with DS was specifically examined. Findings: Of the 147 participants with DS, 9.4% reported a doctor’s diagnosis of osteoporosis;a much lower figure than prevalence of risk factors would suggest. Predisposing factors identified included higher than general population rates of thyroid disease (37.4%), epilepsy (19.3%), sedentary lifestyle (51.7%) and the majority of the females reporting having experienced menopause (61%). Bone health screening was low at (8%) despite the presence of such high levels of risk factors in this population. Conclusion: Given the risk factor findings and the hidden nature of osteoporosis, underreported incidence among people with Down syndrome seems probable. Further investigations and systematic screening are required.

Exercises and sports participation in healthy older adults with intellectual disability—A pilot study

Background: Many adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) have low physical activity (PA). Lack of PA is a risk factor for metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, and some types of cancer. The objective of this study was to investigate the rate of PA in healthy older adults with ID. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of baseline data. Participants were caregivers of persons with ID who were over 50 years old and living in a residential care center. A PA questionnaire and a daily rapport form were used to gather information about the type and rate of daily PA of persons with ID for 12 consecutive days. The Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living (ADL) was used to assess functional dependency. Results: Healthy older adults with ID do not engage in adequate regular PA as recommended by the US Department of Health and Human Services. Conclusion: The low participation in PA for persons with ID may be related to lack of appreciation of the benefits of PA, lack of support from their caregivers and difficulty finding experienced personnel to train them.

Effectiveness of Music Therapy on Social Skill Growth in Educable Intellectual Disability Boys

Social skills include the ability to establish interpersonal relationships with others in a way that is acceptable in terms of norms of society and it should be beneficial to society and have mutual interest. Method: Sample was taken from especial elementary school for educable intellectual disability children in Mashhad, Iran. The sample was boys between 9 - 11 years. After the initial selection of students, they were randomly assigned to two groups of twenty (experimental and control groups). 7 sessions of music therapy were performed for each one in the experimental group whereas no sessions were applied for anyone in the control group. Winelend Social Growth Scale was used to measure their social skill before and after intervention. Result: The mean difference in social skill between the two groups were statistically less than the 0.01 which is highly significant (P-value = 0.0005). This shows that art and music therapy are effective on the growth of social skills in educable intellectual disability children. Conclusion: This research shows that music therapy is effective for improvement of social skills in educable intellectual disability children.

The Differences in the Attitudes of Students With and Without Learning Disabilities Towards Including Students With Mild Intellectual Disability in Elementary Regular Schools in Bahrain

The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in the attitudes of the students with and without learning disabilities(LD)towards including the learners with mild intellectual disability in regular elementary schools.Participants were 120 elementary boys and girls in Bahraini elementary schools.A survey was used here to identify the students’attitudes towards the inclusion of the children with mild intellectual disability in regular schools.The results indicated that:(1)There was a positive attitude among elementary students towards including the children with mild intellectual disability in regular schools;(2)there were statistically significant differences among the students with and without learning disabilities in their attitudes towards including the children with mild intellectual disability in regular elementary schools in favour of the typically developing group;and(3)there were statistically significant differences among the male and female students with and without learning disabilities in their attitudes towards including the children with mild intellectual disability in regular schools in favour of females.

Neurobiology of Neuronal Network Alteration in Intellectual Disability Related to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

The molecular and cellular mechanisms by which alcohol produces its deleterious effects on neuronal networks are only now beginning to be understood. This review focused on alcohol-induced neurobiological alterations on neuronal network components underlying information processing, for further understanding of intellectual disability related to FASD. Abnormal neurodevelopmental events related to alcohol-damaged fetal brain included neurogenesis inhibition, aberrant migration, impaired differentiation, exacerbated apoptosis, impaired axon outgrowth and branching altering synaptogenesis and synaptic plasticity, abnormal GABAergic interneurons triggering synaptic inhibitory/excitatory imbalance, reduced myelinogenesis causing injured white matter in prefrontal lobe and atrophied corpus callosum compromising interhemispheric information transfer, the whole compromising neuronal network scaffolding which may lead to biased information processing with deficits in executive function. What added to these abnormalities are smaller gray matter and reduced hippocampus, resulting in cognition and memory failures. As a whole, these developmental disorders may underlie intellectual disability related to FASD. In rodents, these neuronal network components matured mainly during the second and third trimesters equivalents of human gestation. Transferability of results from animal to human was also discussed. It was hoped that the understanding of alcohol-induced neuronal networks failure mechanisms during the developing brain may lay a foundation for prospective new treatments and interventions.

Students With Intellectual Disability Learn How to Write With Motivation and Joy

Reading and writing can be seen as two sides of the same coin but have different demands for the writer and the reader to handle.The aim of this article is to focus on writing,how to create texts when students have intellectual disabilities and how students with intellectual disabilities have improved their writing skills through an intervention study.Writing will be highlighted from different perspectives,mostly about how writing can be supported through a structural way of working.When it comes to reading and reading difficulties,many studies have been done from different aspects of these topics.Most of these studies are among students with typical intellectual development.Studies about writing development and difficulties are fewer in number than studies about reading,but these are also mostly about children with typical development.When it comes to students with intellectual disability,studies about reading are rare and even rarer when it comes to writing.With this article,we will shed light on how writing difficulties can occur in general development and also when students have intellectual disability.The intervention study presented in this article will give some examples of how teachers can support every student’s writing development.

Empirically supported psychological treatments:The challenges of comorbid psychiatric and behavioral disorders in people with intellectual disability

This paper reviews the current state of knowledge on psychological interventions with empirical evidence of efficacy in treating common psychiatric and behavioral disorders in people with intellectual disability(ID)at all stages of their life.We begin with a brief presentation of what is meant by psychiatric and behavioral disorders in this population,along with an explanation of some of the factors that contribute to the increased psychosocial vulnerability of this group to present with these problems.We then conduct a review of empirically supported psychological therapies used to treat psychiatric and behavioral disorders in people with ID.The review is structured around the three generations of therapies:Applied behavior analysis(e.g.,positive behavior support),cognitive behavioral therapies(e.g.,mindfulness-based cognitive therapy),and contextual therapies(e.g.,dialectical behavior therapy).We conclude with some recommendations for professional practice in the fields of ID and psychiatry.

Submicroscopic 11p13 deletion including the elongator acetyltransferase complex subunit 4 gene in a girl with language failure, intellectual disability and congenital malformations: A case report

BACKGROUND We described the main features of an infant diagnosed with facial dysmorphic,language failure,intellectual disability and congenital malformations to strengthen our understanding of the disease.Currently,treatment is only rehabilitation and surgery for cleft lip and palate.CASE SUMMARY The proband was a 2-years-8-months-old girl.Familial history was negative for congenital malformations or intellectual disability.The patient had microcephaly,upward-slanting palpebral fissures,depressed nasal bridge,bulbous nose and bilateral cleft lip and palate.Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed cortical atrophy and band heterotopia.Her motor and intellectual development is delayed.A submicroscopic deletion in 11p13 involving the elongator acetyltransferase complex subunit 4 gene(ELP4)and a loss of heterozygosity in Xq25-q26.3 were detected.CONCLUSION There is no treatment for the ELP4 deletion caused by a submicroscopic 11p3 deletion.We describe a second case of deletion of the ELP4 gene without aniridia,which confirms the association between ELP4 gene with several defects and absence of this ocular defect.Additional clinical data in the deletion of the ELP4 gene as cleft palate,facial dysmorphism,and changes at level brain could be associated to this gene or be part of the effect of the recessives genes involved in the loss of heterozygosity region of Xq25-26.3.

Strengthening Social Skills in Students With an Intellectual Disability in Secondary Education

During recent decades, one of education＇s most important issues is the idea of inclusion regarding the students＇ full participation to the mutual school environment. In addition, in the international scientific bibliography, it is stated that children with Intellectual Disability （ID） can integrate socially at school. However, the social benefits of inclusive education cannot always be reached. Studies have shown that just putting students with ID in a common school is not always adequate, as their social abilities are insufficient and because of that interventions are required. In this paper, we will examine school inclusion of students with ID having in mind that it is connected firstly to the modification of educational techniques using a Targeted, Individual, Structured, Integrated Program for Students with Special Educational Needs （TISIPfSENs）. We will focus to the enhancement of their social skills facing school as one of their educational areas inside the community. The results showed that educational interventions that are focused on the enforcement of social skills are a basic priority for the inclusion of students with ID inside the school community.

Support for Independent Work： Use of Cell Phones by the Intellectually Disabled in Their Daily Lives

This paper presents a technological solution to promote and help independent access to work for disabled people. The aim is to develop a form of technical assistance that supports them in the control of schedules, prevention of dangerous areas in the work place, warnings and automatic alarm generation. The device chosen to exchange all this information is a smartphone based on Android Operating System and GPS （Global Positioning System） technology mainly. A set of Android applications has been developed using Java language, and controlling the device via Google-developed Java libraries. All of them are connected to the Server Application through the Communications Module. The Server Application Module provides the assistants or psychologists the possibility of supervise all the handicapped people activities. The assistants, psychologists and users have all evaluated the application very positively as it covers disabled people＇s needs perfectly.

Prevalence of intellectual disability in India:A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Burden due to intellectual disability(ID) is only third to the depressive disorders and anxiety disorders in India. This national burden significantly contributes to the global burden of ID and hence one has to think globally and act locally to reduce this burden. At its best the collective prevalence of ID is in the form of narrative reviews. There is an urgent need to document the summary prevalence of ID to enhance further policymaking, national programs and resource allocation.AIM To establish the summary prevalence of ID during the past 60 years in India.METHODS Two researchers independently and electronically searched Pub Med, Scopus, and the Cochrane library from January 1961 to December 2020 using appropriate search terms. Two other investigators extracted the study design, setting, participant characteristics, and measures used to identify ID. Two other researchers appraised the quality of the studies using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal format for Prevalence Studies. Funnel plot and Egger’s regression test were used to ascertain the publication and small study effect on the prevalence. To evaluate the summary prevalence of ID, we used the random effects model with arcsine square-root transformation. Heterogeneity of I^(2)≥ 50% was considered substantial and we determined the heterogeneity with meta-regression. The analyses were performed using STATA(version 16).RESULTS Nineteen studies were included in the meta-analysis. There was publication bias;the trim-and-fill method was used to further ascertain bias. Concerns with control of confounders and the reliable measure of outcome were noted in the critical appraisal. The summary prevalence of ID was 2% [(95%CI: 2%, 3%);I^(2)= 98%] and the adjusted summary prevalence was 1.4%. Meta-regression demonstrated that age of the participants was statistically significantly related to the prevalence;other factors did not influence the prevalence or heterogeneity.CONCLUSION The summary prevalence of ID in India was established to be 2% taking into consideration the individual prevalence studies over the last six decades. This knowledge should improve the existing disability and mental health policies, national programs and service delivery to reduce the national and global burden associated with ID.

Cytogenetic Diagnosis and Analysis of the Clinical Profile of Individuals with Non-down Syndrome Intellectual Disability

Chromosomal alterations are the main causes of genetic diseases. One of the characteristics of certain genetic syndromes is ID （intellectual disability） presented by the individual in varying degrees. The study of the ID, its etiology, association or not with chromosomal abnormalities and a clinical diagnosis associated with the examination of karyotype are important aspects to consider when providing genetic counseling for families. Due to the lack of similar studies and of easy access to cytogenetic services for the Amazonian population, this study aimed to contribute to the advancement of this line of study in the state, analyzing the karyotype of individuals with ID, not Down Syndrome treated at the APAE-Manaus and identifying the main types of chromosomal alterations in the individuals analyzed. Analyzes were performed of the clinical diagnosis through investigation of the data from the interview and medical records as well as analysis of the karyotype of 31 patients with non-Down syndrome ID, attended in the APAE-Manaus. Of these subjects, 20 were female and 11 male. The results showed only 2 cases of chromosome abnormalities are detectable by classical cytogenetics, one of mosaic Turner syndrome and one a heterochromatic variant. It is therefore necessary to complement the study with the addition of molecular techniques for the investigation of microdeletions and/or other alterations not detectable through the banding technique, mainly for individuals whose dysmorphisms indicate a suspected syndrome.

Family empowerment and associated factors in Japanese families raising a child with severe motor and intellectual disabilities

Objectives:Family caregivers raising children with severe motor and intellectual disabilities(SMID)experience the enormous burden of care.The concept of family empowerment is one of the important assessment indexes of family nursing from the perspective of providing comprehensive support for these families.The objective of this study was to identify the factors associated with the empowerment of families raising a child with SMID in Japan.Methods:We conducted a nationwide questionnaire survey involving 1659 primary caregivers raising a child with SMID through 89 special schools.We assessed the main outcomes using the Family Empowerment Scale(FES).We then conducted a multiple linear regression analysis to reveal the factors associated with family empowerment.Results:In total,1362 primary caregivers were included in our study.Our results show that factors contributing to high FES scores are higher age of the primary caregiver,higher education,greater recognition of regional support,lower childcare burden,higher utilization of home visit services,higher usage of a childcare institution,higher household income,and stronger family bonding.Conclusion:Healthcare professionals should carefully assess the state of family empowerment of the primary caregivers who are younger and those who have low education,low household income,high childcare burden,and fragile bonding with the family.Second,they should encourage such families to use regional support resources for childcare.That is,policy makers should consider ways to promote home visits and institutional services for the care of children with SMID,aiming especially for the provision of well-coordinated care and services.