Medical: Health and Wellness

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Learn about the importance of health and wellness for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and behavioral health needs. Learn how poor health can contribute to the development of dysregulated behaviors. Get started by viewing the videos and engaging in the activities. Review the resources and tools to expand your learning and enhance your support for youth with complex needs.

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Activities

Health Factor Considerations

  • Read each scenario.
  • Identify health factors that you would be curious about exploring based on the information provided in the scenario.
  • Next, review the health factor considerations identified by the youth’s team and the questions that surfaced during their discussion.

Scenario 1:

Melissa is curious, active, outspoken, and at times can be disruptive in the classroom and at home. She is learning strategies to help her regulate her impulsive actions. The team notices that she is making some improvements, but she seems always to struggle on Mondays at school and sometimes before lunch. What health factors would you be curious about exploring based on this information?

  • Medication

    Is Melissa on medication to assist her to help regulate her impulsive behavior? If so, does she take the medication regularly on the weekends? If not, could the schedule of medications impact her on Monday mornings?

  • Sleep

    Are Melissa’s sleep patterns different Friday and Saturday nights and is the adjustment on Sunday night a challenge?

  • Diet

    Could Melissa’s diet be a factor? Is she hungry? On the days that she struggles before lunch, did she eat breakfast and what did she eat?

  • GI Pain

    If not hunger, could Melissa have gastrointestinal issues (GI) and not want to eat because of the discomfort?

Scenario 2:

Kyle entered an intense residential treatment program in November and has made great progress in the last six months. He is generally easy-going, calm, and more independent than when he was admitted. Kyle enjoys sensory activities and is often walking, running, or swinging. However, in the last several weeks, he has had periods of dysregulation and some concerning behavioral incidents where he bangs his head on the wall or with his hands. These occur periodically across environments and times of day, but less likely on the weekends. Kyle is not a verbal communicator and is learning to use an AAC device. What health factors would you be curious about exploring based on this information?

  • Pain

    Is Kyle experiencing pain that he is not able to communicate to others? Could headaches be an issue since the behavior targets his head? Has he had his vision checked in the last year? Could poor vision be causing headaches? Could he be having tooth or mouth pain?

  • Allergies

    Could Kyle have seasonal allergies and is having discomfort in his sinuses as he enters Spring which is generally a major allergy season?

  • Medication

    Is Kyle taking medications? Have there been any changes in the last several weeks?

  • Physical Activity

    Is Kyle getting enough or the right kind of physical activity during the day at school to help keep him regulated?

Scenario 3:

Janet is a twelve-year-old female that is enrolling in a new school as she enters a residential treatment program. The family is concerned about her frequent dysregulation and increasing behavioral episodes. Information that the family has provided includes periodic complaints of stomach pain, poor eater – has lost ‘some weight’ (family is not sure how much), ignores her parents and teachers requests unless they become stern with her and that can lead to a ‘behavior’, and takes psychotropic medications but parents are unsure if she always swallows the pills. What health factors would you be curious about exploring based on this information?

  • Constipation or other GI Issues

    Could the stomach pains be related to some type of gastrointestinal issue (GI)? Psychotropic medication can often cause GI adverse effects.

  • Menstrual Cycle

    Is Janet menstruating? Does her cycle coincide with the ‘stomach pains’?

  • Diet

    How much and what types of foods is Janet eating? How much does she weigh and how much weight has she lost? Is poor nutrition a factor?

  • Medication Compliance

    Is Janet taking her meds or is she inconsistent with the medication? Poor med compliance can cause dysregulation and negative physical effects. Why does she not want to take her meds? Do they cause her to feel sick? Uncomfortable? Out of Control? Sleepy/Groggy?

  • Hearing Concerns

    Is Janet ignoring or does she have difficulty hearing unless a person is close to her or in her visual field?

  • Neurological Issues

    Could there be some type of neurological issue occurring when she does not respond to others or associated with behavioral episodes that are not easily explained?

Downloads

Health Factors that Contribute to Dysregulated Behavior

Many health and medical factors can contribute to emotional dysregulation and create behavior concerns. Use this tool to review potential factors and to create a plan to address needs.

Download Health Factors that Contribute to Dysregulated Behavior