The second session will focus on health inequalities for people who have language and communication difficulties (with a specific focus on those with Down syndrome). Health inequalities is a significant issue, affecting length of life, health conditions, and access to healthcare services. A recent report by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists in the UK identified people with learning disabilities (which would include those with genetic conditions such as Down syndrome) as an under-served group which may have different outcomes due to health inequalities (RCSLT, 2021). The reasons for health inequalities experienced by people with learning difficulties are complex and multifaceted; the World Health Organisation published a report in 2022 highlighting that although progress has been made in recent years, people with disabilities still experience poorer health outcomes. We will review what is currently known about the quality of life of people with Down syndrome and critically evaluate how quality of life is measured in people with learning disabilities such as those with Down syndrome and the role of language and communication. It has been well established that persistent speech/language/communication difficulties in childhood are associated with poorer educational and psycho-social outcomes (McCormack et al., 2009; Lewis et al., 2019; Wren et al., 2023), making early intervention essential to help children reach their full potential (Buckley et al., 2024). Given that 98% of people with Down syndrome experience speech/language and communication difficulties, one way to improve better access to healthcare services is to provide early speech/language/communication support.
