Caring for People with Intellectual Disability: What Every Clinician Needs to Know

People with intellectual disability represent approximately 2% of the Australian population, yet they experience some of the worst health outcomes of any group — with a life expectancy 27 years shorter than the general population and twice the rate of preventable deaths. In this episode, Host Dr Gavin Nimon (Orthopaedic Surgeon)  is joined by Dr Hannah Wu, GP and consultant with the South Australian Intellectual Disability Health Service (SAIDHS), and Stephanie Searle, OT and Service Manager at South Australian Intellectual Disability Health Service, to discuss the practical clinical knowledge every health professional needs when caring for this population. Topics include:Communication strategies and person-first versus identity-first languageConsent, capacity, and the role of guardianshipThe HELP framework for assessing behavioural changeDiagnostic overshadowing and cognitive biasPsychotropic prescribing, chemical restraint, and NDIS reporting obligationsThe Comprehensive Health Assessment Program (CHAP) and relevant MBS item numbersScreening, immunisation, and preventative health considerationsSuitable for GP CPD, junior doctor education, and any clinician/ Health Professional seeking to improve care for this underserved group. 🎙️ Proudly Supported By Our SponsorsAussie Med Ed is independent and free — made possible by these amazing Australian organisations. Heidi Health — AI medical scribe built for Australian clinicians. Finish clinic on time and keep your focus on your patients. Visit Heidi HealthHealthShare — Australia's health information and referral platform, connecting GPs, specialists and patients. Visit HealthShareAvant Medical Defence Organisation — Protecting over 80,000 Australian healthcare professionals. Visit AvanteMedici -an Australian-made medical education platform for med students, junior doctors, and IMGs. Visit eMedici.com/MEDEDBetter Medical- GP clinics across QLD, SA, VIC and TAS – offering you the freedom to practise your way, backed by a strong support network. Visit BetterMedicalThanking the organisations that make Aussie Med Ed possible. Visit our full Sponsors page