What is PMLD?

[r3dh3d]

Hi all!

Anyone got a definition of PMLD, which I think is "Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties" or some such?

As DD1 gets older I am dealing less with the NHS and more with LEA/Social Services. I'm used to talking in terms of medical diagnoses but this lot seem to use non-medical categories like PMLD. I think this is probably what DD1 is, in their terms. I know that she is, at least, "Severe Learning Difficulties" because that's the name of the panel that allocated her to SN nursery. I've finally (finally!) got a social worker but he's only temporary and I want to get him up to speed ASAP before he leaves - so describing DD1 in terms of their own jargon seems like a good first step.

So, what is PMLD? And any other buzzwords/jargon I should use?

You are right - PMLD is short for "profound and multiple learning difficulties".

I think of people with PMLD as being very very severely disabled- so unable to walk, respond to light/sound etc. The teaching they would receive would be sensory in the main. At least that describes the PMLD group at ds1's school.

DS1 is classed as SLD- can run, jump, eat normally, is toilet trained, can read his own name and a few other things etc, but has language skills of a 12-18 month old (he's 7).

My dd is classified as having PMLD. She's two, but cannot walk, talk (and is unlikely to ever do these things), is visually impaired, struggles with eating and certainly can't feed herself. However, like everything, PMLD is a spectrum.

It's taken me a long time to be able to acknowledge that she has PMLD (and be able to describe her as such). Feels like a bit of a breakthrough.

Would it maybe be worth contacting someone like Mencap and asking what they would categorise as PMLD?

Good idea hitc. \link{http://www.mencap.org.uk/html/campaigns/PMLD/pmld_definition.asp\definition from mencap}

Thanks all!

Have read the link. Which was helpful, but am still uncertain! It's really difficult to objectively assess your own child [ (((hugs))) to Chonky].

DD1 has motor impairment - but only on lhs - can't lift left foot properly, can't use left hand intentionally, can't smile on left side of face - and falls over a lot. Can't run, climb, jump but can walk. Has some impairment of her mental map of the world which means she is always tripping over familiar objects or standing up under tables and hitting her head. Has assorted mild visual impairments. Is developmentally (at age 2) 7-8 months and has been static or regressing since 14 months. And has pretty severe Epilepsy plus a metabolic disorder that means that if she leaves the house you can't let her more than a couple of feet away from you.

But. She can walk perfectly well though her gait is peculiar. IQ doesn't seem too bad though it's hard to tell as she has nearly zero communication (v limited signs and gestures which she rarely has any interest in using, and no words or any realistic prospect of any). Can't copy, doesn't understand/listen to instructions, so learns nothing unless she invents it for herself. However, on being given a toy where you post a ball to get a light to flash, will find the trigger mechanism and dispense with the ball within 5 minutes of first seeing the toy.

So not "classic" PMLD. But more complex than most SLD I guess. I might contact Mencap, good suggestion.