Tahseen Al-Zahra
50554530
In this report I will be exploring the various possible causes for additional needs, as well
as a variety of methods used to overcome the challenges faced by individuals who have
additional needs. Furthermore, I will be exploring the current working practices in Health
and Social Care with respect to provisions in place for those with additional needs. This
report will focus on the case studies of Ben Grace, a 52 year old man who has Down’s
Syndrome and Type 2 Diabetes and Rebecca Brown, an 8 year old girl who is now a
wheelchair user following a road traffic accident.
Task 1
I will be examining diagnostic criteria and procedures used for individuals with additional
needs, alongside comparing the additional needs of adults and young people to help
give an overview and understanding as to why additional needs may occur.
P1. Explain Diagnostic Procedures to Determine Additional Needs for one Child
and one Adult With Different Additional Needs
Rebecca requires a wheelchair due to a car accident that resulted in a fractured spine,
which means she has no mobility below the cervical spine. Rebecca attends a special
needs school where she is fully supported in her study by a teaching assistant and has
a carer who assists her with personal care during the day. Rebecca presently lives in a
small, non-wheelchair accessible flat where her neighbours are not accepting of her
condition, and her family has received negative comments from them, prompting them
to avoid going out whenever possible. Rebecca’s additional needs have left her in a
severe condition as she is now paralysed and requires assistance with daily living tasks,
such as carrying out personal care. Her disability has also largely affected her PIES
needs which can have a detrimental impact on her wellbeing.
Ben is 52 years old, has Down syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and a learning age of eight.
He requires assistance with all parts of daily functioning; he lives in a residential setting
with other people who have various learning disabilities and require additional services.
Ben has said he's going to remain in his room following an incident while out shopping
in which several teenagers yelled at him, which is worrying for the staff. Ben has type 2
diabetes and must adhere to a particular diet; however, he refuses to do so, leading his
blood glucose levels to become unstable, causing him to feel ill. Ben’s additional needs
have left him in a severe condition as he requires assistance from professionals to help
with daily living due to his Type 2 diabetes and Down’s syndrome. Down’s syndrome is
classed as a severe learning disability as it can have both mental and physical
symptoms which can lead to a person experiencing additional needs and requiring a
higher level of support due to their likely impaired or limited abilities.
,Tahseen Al-Zahra
50554530
Rebecca has a physical disability known as paralysis. A physical disability occurs when
a person has reduced mobility, physical functioning, dexterity, or endurance in one or
more parts of their body. The physical impairment may have long-term consequences
for the individual and have a negative impact on their day-to-day activities. Rebecca's
paralysis requires her to need a wheelchair to get around and she requires extra help at
school.
Health and social services, a A neurologist, doctor, carer, and occupational therapist
are among the professionals and experts engaged in Rebecca's diagnosis. A
neurologist doctor must have an understanding of anatomy, physiology, and the central
nervous system. They must have practical and diagnostic abilities, as well as the ability
to communicate effectively with service users and employees. The qualifications a
neurologist must have is a degree in medicine and to be a qualified doctor before
pursuing a master's degree in medicine and specialising in the brain and neurological
system. A neurologist has experience diagnosing, treating and managing disorders of
the brain and nervous system (brain, spinal cord and nerves). A neurologist knows the
anatomy, function and conditions that affect an individual's nerves and nervous system. 1
Rebecca also needs to see an occupational therapist. An occupational therapist's
professional background is to analyse and treat a person's physical and mental well-
being holistically, taking into account all of their requirements. To develop awareness of
the field, an occupational therapist should visit occupational therapy units before being
qualified. Working as a work shadow for a trained occupational therapist will offer them
an idea of what they will be doing. An occupational therapist must be registered with the
Health and Social Care Professional Council and have a degree in a health and social
sector that leads to a postgraduate diploma in occupational therapy.
Rebecca's condition would've been diagnosed via MRI scans, CT scans, and X-rays. A
radiographer, who is trained in imaging investigations, performs an MRI scan. MRI
scans may check almost any region of the body, including the brain and spinal cord,
joints and bones, breasts, heart and blood arteries, and internal organs like the kidney.
The MRI scans function by sending bursts of radio waves to a specific part of the body,
which in Rebecca's instance will be her cervical spine. When radio waves are switched
off, protons within the body realign and send off radio signals, which are picked up by
receivers. The radio signals will detect what is wrong with Rebecca's spine and display
it on a screen. CT scans will also aid with Rebecca's diagnosis. The CT scan, like the
MRI scan, is an enhanced X-ray that is conducted by a radiographer. A radiographer
must possess certain qualifications such as either an approved undergraduate degree
diagnostic radiography or a masters in diagnostic radiography. A radiographer must
also have experience in analysing and observing images to ensure they are able to spot
1 (NHS, NHS choices 2019)
(NHS, NHS choices 2019)
,Tahseen Al-Zahra
50554530
any abnormalities in an image to ensure that individuals get the correct diagnosis. They
must also pay attention to detail to help ensure that nothing goes missed when
analysing an image. The CT scan is used to diagnose bone and joint disorders, identify
cancer and heart disease, and show interior injuries and bleeding. Rebecca's CT scan
will focus on her spine; contrast, which is a chemical injected into the bloodstream to
make veins and tissues visible, may be required. Rebecca's damage will be better
understood thanks to the CT scan, which will reveal more extensive information about
her vertebrae and other minor spinal structures. An X-ray uses a type of radiation that
goes through the body to create images of Rebecca's bones in her spine. The X-ray
detects bone breaks or fractures, bone tumours, and lung issues.
Rebecca's condition was caused by a vehicle accident. A spinal injury in a vehicle
collision is typically caused by a quick and violent impact to the back, fracturing or
dislocating vertebrae, and pieces becoming loose. Rebecca will be confined to a
wheelchair for the remainder of her life due to paralysis from her cervical spine, which is
located at the base of her neck. Rebecca's illness is severe. A serious spinal fracture
occurs when the vertebral body in the spine breaks in several locations, causing tiny
bone pieces to break off and injure the spinal cord. This sort of spinal injury nearly
usually results in paralysis. Rebecca's disability has rendered her wheelchair bound and
unable to move beyond her cervical spine, necessitating several additional
requirements. She will require a hoist, which is a harness that will assist her in getting in
and out of bed and in getting in and out of a car because she cannot use her legs.
Rebecca now requires a wheelchair to move everywhere, and she also requires 24-hour
care because she is unable to eat or use the bathroom on her own. Rebecca's situation
is critical since she has lost her bodily freedom.
A rehabilitation specialist working with Rebecca will talk to her and provide her with a
plan and goals she could achieve by empowering her and assuring that her wants and
needs are fulfilled. Rebecca's spinal fracture may impair her spine's alignment over
time, leading it to lean forward. Her spine's curvature might make it difficult for her to
breathe, swallow, and sleep correctly. A physiotherapist may work with Rebecca to help
minimise discomfort by moving her legs and using various technologies and therapies
on her back to assist regulate and reduce pain. This also allows her to avoid pain relief
medicines, which can have negative long-term effects.
Overall, the prognosis for Rebecca’s condition is that she is highly unlikely to regain
movement below her cervical spine. Paralysis is likely to cause dramatic changes to an
individual's life and can also negatively impact an individual's self image. This can lead
to the individual like Rebecca suffering from mental health issues. Therefore, it is vital
that Rebecca accepts any physical and emotional support she is offered to help
maintain a good quality of life and to also ensure that her individual needs are met.
Although Rebacca is unlikely to regain movement below her cervical spine, with the
, Tahseen Al-Zahra
50554530
correct rehabilitation she can learn to adapt to her situation over time. Rebecca’s
disability would be classes as moderate as her disability has led to her finding daily
living activities more complicated, meaning she requires a one to one carer to help
ensure her individual needs are met.
Ben suffers from Down syndrome and type 2 diabetes. Downs syndrome is
characterised by the presence of one extra chromosome at birth. Individuals with Down
syndrome may experience challenges with their speaking, movement, vision, and
hearing. Ben will not be able to get his blood glucose to a good level and will become
more unwell if he does not follow his stated diet. Type 2 diabetes demands a healthy
diet and being active to lose weight to assist a decrease in his blood glucose.
Downs syndrome may be detected in a variety of methods, the most common of which
is a downs syndrome screening test called the combined test, which is performed by a
midwife around 10-14 weeks of pregnancy. The midwife collects a blood sample and
measures the back of the baby's neck to determine nuchal translucency, as well as
looking at hormones, proteins, and other substances present in the blood to determine
whether the child has Down syndrome. At the same time, an ultrasound test is
performed for a specialist doctor to look at the fluid in a region of the baby's neck called
the nuchal fold; if the fluid is greater than usual, this is a positive sign for Down
syndrome. Another test for diagnosing Down syndrome is a diagnostic test, which is
performed after birth and is determined by physical appearance and physical signs, as
people with Down syndrome share similar features, but because babies do not always
show physical symptoms, doctors will take a sample of blood to determine the amount
of chromosomes and confirm the diagnosis2. A developmental paediatrician is the
doctor who will examine the screening and ultrasound; they focus on a child's total
physical and mental development from birth and specialise in diagnosis. A 5-year
degree in medicine and 4-7 years of specialty training are required for a developmental
paediatrician. A diabetic specialist nurse is one sort of health and social care worker
who might be involved in identifying Ben's type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is
characterised by an abnormally high level of glucose in the blood. It is often diagnosed
with a blood or urine sample collected by the designated nurse. A diabetic specialist
nurse's background includes, for example, offering appropriate patient care, supporting
self-care management, and providing counselling. Before being trained, a diabetes
specialist nurse would benefit from being around patients with diabetes and other
nurses caring for them, since this would give them a better knowledge of what they will
be dealing with. A diabetic specialist must have a minimum of a specified nursing
postgraduate diploma.
2 (Clinic, Down syndrome 2018)
