Ep 149: Why 'Not Acting Right' Signals Hidden Health and Life Issues in IDD

About this episode

The episode discusses how behaviors in individuals with IDD may indicate underlying health issues rather than just psychiatric problems.

In this IDD Perspectives webinar the focus is on understanding why individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) may appear to be "not acting right," emphasizing that such behaviors are often signals of underlying issues rather than merely behavioral or psychiatric problems. Guest Dr. Matt Holder and host Craig Escudé highlight the importance of first ruling out medical causes such as pain, illness, infections, dental problems, medication side effects, or undiagnosed conditions, as these can be easily overlooked but have serious consequences. They also discuss environmental and social factors—such as life changes, lack of support, stress, or unmet needs—along with sensory sensitivities and psychological experiences like grief or trauma. A key message is that psychiatric diagnoses are frequently overused, leading to unnecessary medications and harmful side effects, when the real causes may lie elsewhere. The discussion stresses careful observation of patterns, person-centered care, better training for healthcare providers, and strong advocacy from caregivers to ensure individuals with IDD receive accurate diagnoses, appropriate care, and respectful treatment.

People in this episode

Host: Craig Escudé

Guest: Dr. Matt Holder

Topics covered

• intellectual disabilities
• health issues
• behavioral signals
• person-centered care
• advocacy
• medical causes

Keywords

• intellectual disabilities
• developmental disabilities
• healthcare
• behavioral health
• medical causes
• advocacy
• person-centered care

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: IntellectAbility

More episodes of IDD Health Matters

• Ep 151: Improving IDD Healthcare Through Telemedicine and Specialized Training · June 8, 2026 · 28 min
• Ep 150: Empowering Learning: Building Inclusive Skills for Adults with Disabilities · June 1, 2026 · 21 min
• Ep 148: Putting People First: The Power of Person-Centered Care · May 18, 2026 · 19 min
• Ep 147: Leading with Compassion: Building Inclusive, Person‑Centered Supports for People with IDD · May 11, 2026 · 23 min
• Ep 146: Dental Care Without Borders: Reaching Refugees and People with Disabilities · May 4, 2026 · 23 min
• Ep 145: Personal Experience Driving Better, More Equitable Health Care for People With IDD · April 27, 2026 · 15 min