Prevalence of chronic health conditions in children with intellectual disability: a systematic literature review.

Oeseburg et al. (2011) looked at every paper they could find on long-term health problems in kids with intellectual disability. They did not run new tests. They read and pooled the old ones. The team wanted to know which extra health issues show up most often.

Three problems stood out. About one in five kids had epilepsy. One in five had cerebral palsy. One in five had an anxiety disorder. Rates were much higher than in typical children.

Dai et al. (2023) later asked, "If anxiety is so common, does CBT help?" Their review of nine small trials said yes, but only when you add pictures, model steps, and keep groups tiny.

Nuebling et al. (2024) added another layer. They found sleep problems are also the norm, not the exception, in people with ID. So the chronic-condition list keeps growing.

La Valle et al. (2025) counted real-world meds. Adults with ID now average eight over-the-counter drugs each. The 2011 picture of high health burden still holds—and looks worse with newer data.

When you see a child with ID, expect more than cognitive delay. Screen for epilepsy, cerebral palsy, anxiety, and sleep issues at intake. Build these checks into your baseline assessment. If anxiety shows up, try CBT with visuals and small groups. Track side effects when families list multiple OTC meds. Planning for extra health needs lets you write realistic goals and avoid surprises during sessions.