Best Examples Of Digital Health For Patients With Intellectual Disability

Caring for someone with intellectual disabilities presents unique challenges, primarily because caregivers often face uncertainty about the well-being of those they care for. It can be difficult to ascertain if they are experiencing pain, discomfort, or needs they can’t communicate. Existing digital health solutions can play new, unusual roles to help us protect our loved ones.

Intellectual disability is a condition that limits intelligence and disrupts abilities necessary for living independently. Signs of this lifelong condition appear during childhood, most people with this will need some degree of assistance throughout their lives. 

In this context, the often-cited digital health advancements hold significant promise: new technologies may bridge the communication gaps or compensate for missing abilities. New devices and solutions not only ease the daily lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities and their caregivers but also provide added protection and comfort. 

In this article, we will explore how the future of digital health technologies, including artificial intelligence, can help life for people living with intellectual disabilities.

AI to improve job skills

A heartwarming story by a parent of a child with DiGeorge syndrome is a great reminder of what profound effects technology can have. Their child’s genetic condition has led to significant intellectual challenges, limiting her opportunities for employment and self-sufficiency.

As their daughter approaches adulthood, the family is transitioning from managing major medical issues to finding employment, securing Social Security Disability Income (SSDI), and Medicaid. However, her significant deficits in communication, English, and math present major hurdles.

The father shares an inspiring perspective on the role of generative AI in overcoming these challenges. "Generative AI can help people like my daughter communicate and learn by creating personalized tools and platforms tailored to her individual needs," he writes. "These tools can help her communicate more easily, learn new skills, and improve her general academic and job performance."

Apps and virtual learning environments 

Various software, apps, and learning solutions can generate a safe environment in which essential life skills can be learned and practiced. This includes learning new skills, practicing everyday situations, or learning to recognise potentially dangerous situations.

This usability study reported an online tool called STOP-ID! designed to help adults with Down syndrome self-report pain. The study found that participants could better recognize representations of pain location and emotional impact than pain intensity or quality. While only a small percentage could use the tool completely independently, half were able to report at least one aspect of their pain without assistance.

Another great example is a telemonitoring tool based on computer games, aimed at money management skill improvement for people with intellectual disabilities, especially Down Syndrome. The app helps them learn basic skills of daily life, such as money management and recognising different coins, and it allows them to practice processes like paying and getting change back. On the other hand, it has a “supervising” feature that lets professionals follow the results of people with ID they are in charge of.

The web application called MySigns was one of very few e-health tools for people with intellectual disability. Despite the fact that they are more likely to experience mental health issues than people without intellectual disability, mental health service access for this group is poor. Sadly, the app was discontinued at the end of last year. 

A number of studies have shown that virtual learning environments - imagine a virtual city with houses, stores, cafes, public transport, and a hospital for example -, are great tools to support learning for people with intellectual disabilities. “Virtual environments appear to be a fruitful method of teaching skills for independent living to people with intellectual disabilities. Initial studies demonstrate that learning in this way transfers to the real-life situation in which the skills are required.“ Such methods can be used to teach real-life hazards, such as the everyday dangers of using a kitchen. 

Tools that take care of our beloved one

Digital health solutions can also help caregivers have a piece of mind by creating a safe(r) environment. This includes a wide range of solutions. 

GPS trackers and wearables can be used to alert a caregiver if a vulnerable person leaves the house/apartment. These can be worn as watches, bracelets, or even embedded in clothing. They track the wearer's location, and some devices can even send alerts if the person leaves a designated safe zone.

Smart medication dispersers automate medication management, ensuring that individuals take the correct dosage at the right time. They can also send reminders to caregivers if a dose is missed, some even allow remote monitoring, so caregivers can track medication adherence in real time. Theoretically, such future solutions could also be programmed to not open if the day’s dose was already taken, preventing accidental overdoses. 

Fall detection sensors automatically alert caregivers if a fall is detected, these are already used in elderly care facilities but can be also used at home. These can detect falls and automatically alert caregivers and/or emergency services. Some systems work with wearable sensors, while others have camera systems and AI algorithms to monitor the surroundings. 

Wearable health monitors can track vital signs like heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen levels, alerting caregivers to any potential health concerns. They can also monitor sleep patterns and activity levels, and we have also seen an ingenious wearable that lets caregivers know whether their non-communicative patient is in comfort or pain.

Speech-generating devices come in many shapes and sizes. Some are capable of transmitting a single, verbal message (like: “hungry”), some types can play two messages. Others can go up to 32, with icons representing the various choices. These can look like tablets, but can also be wearables. 

Social robots can provide companionship and assist with daily tasks. They can be programmed to remind individuals of their routines, engage them in conversations, and even play games to keep them mentally active and socially engaged. Although the scientific literature is yet small, it seems that they are generally well-accepted by many intellectually disabled groups. 

Due to their vulnerability, our relatives and friends living with intellectual disabilities require enhanced protection and care, where digital health tools can provide significant assistance. This is an especially exciting area because it often reveals how existing solutions can take on new, critical roles beyond their conventional uses. A great example is the generative AI mentioned at the beginning of this article, but even a GPS sensor or a wearable health tracker can serve slightly different, yet perhaps even more important functions than we typically imagine.