Identifying parents with learning disabilities

Abstract

People with learning disabilities are likely to need additional support when accessing healthcare and, for those who are parents, receiving support at an early stage may help them to keep their child. Health professionals who have contact with expectant mothers early on in their pregnancies are well placed to identify support needs. Providing timely support may be a challenge, particularly if the mother has not been known to learning disability services. This article discusses whether screening tools may offer nurses a quick, easy way of identifying people with learning disabilities.