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Epilepsy and Intellectual Disabilities pp 303–316Cite as

Nursing and Community Aspects of Epilepsy in Intellectual Disabilities

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Abstract

Epilepsy is the most common neurological disorder in people with intellectual disability (ID), with a reported prevalence of 16–44 % compared with 0.4–1 % in the general population. Epilepsy has a pervasive impact across the lives of people with ID—as many as one-fifth of the population of people with ID across the lifespan have epilepsy. Epilepsy is one of the core components of all ID nursing. The ID epilepsy specialist nurse (ESN) is pivotal in disseminating a greater understanding of the condition through the provision of training, information, and guidance. Understanding the process of assessing capacity and working within the best-practice guidelines is critical to the role of the ID ESN. Appropriate management and support for people with ID epilepsy can minimize social and financial deprivation and stigmatization and promote independence. Utilizing risk-assessment tools, epilepsy care plans, rescue medication guidance and monitoring of side effects of treatment regimes, preconception counseling, and the effect that epilepsy has on a person’s quality of life require specialist ID nursing expertise.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board, Cardiff, UK

    C. Hanson MSc, RNMH, SpPr CNLD, Dip CHS

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  1. C. Hanson MSc, RNMH, SpPr CNLD, Dip CHS
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. NHS Trust, Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Trust, Birmingham, United Kingdom

    Vee P. Prasher

  2. Institute of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neuroscience, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom

    Mike Kerr

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Hanson, C. (2016). Nursing and Community Aspects of Epilepsy in Intellectual Disabilities. In: Prasher, V., Kerr, M. (eds) Epilepsy and Intellectual Disabilities. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-39144-1_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-39144-1_14

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