Annual health checks
Revise the learning disability register, annual health checks from age 14, health action plans, carers, screening, immunisation, medicines and long-term condition review.
MRCGP AKT learning disability revision
Learning disability questions test whether you can adapt primary care safely: communicate clearly, make reasonable adjustments, avoid diagnostic overshadowing and involve carers without losing the person's rights.
Quick answer
For AKT learning disability revision, prioritise annual health checks, health action plans, reasonable adjustments, diagnostic overshadowing, supported communication, capacity, safeguarding, epilepsy, mental health and medication review.
What to revise first
Reasonable adjustments
Know practical adjustments such as longer appointments, easy-read information, accessible communication, familiar supporters and flexible examination or investigation plans.
Diagnostic overshadowing
AKT stems often test whether physical or mental illness is missed because new symptoms are wrongly attributed to the learning disability.
Capacity and consent
Focus on decision-specific capacity, supported decision-making, best interests, advocacy, safeguarding and when carers can or cannot consent on behalf of someone.
Behaviour that challenges
Look for pain, infection, constipation, medication effects, sensory distress, communication needs, mental illness, environmental triggers and carer strain before assuming behaviour is intentional.
Common comorbidity
Cover epilepsy, dysphagia, constipation, reflux, sensory impairment, mental health problems, autism overlap, obesity, osteoporosis and premature ageing.
Red flags to recognise quickly
- Any acute change in behaviour, function, sleep, appetite, mobility or communication without a clear explanation
- Pain, fever, vomiting, constipation, urinary symptoms, seizure change or swallowing difficulty that may be under-reported
- Possible abuse, neglect, restraint concern, unexplained injuries, carer breakdown or unsafe living situation
- New mental health symptoms, self-injury, withdrawal, agitation, psychosis, severe anxiety or suicidal risk
- Medication toxicity, anticholinergic burden, sedative effects, missed monitoring or multiple psychotropics
- Loss of capacity for a specific decision, conflict about best interests or lack of an appropriate advocate
Why this topic catches candidates out
The AKT trap is assuming the presentation is behavioural or social when there may be pain, infection, constipation, medication harm, mental illness or safeguarding risk. The safer answer usually adapts the consultation and looks for the cause.
AKT learning disability FAQ
Is learning disability tested in the MRCGP AKT?
Yes. Learning disability is a named RCGP curriculum topic. AKT questions can test annual health checks, reasonable adjustments, capacity, safeguarding, diagnostic overshadowing, epilepsy, mental health and behaviour that challenges.
What should I revise first for AKT learning disability?
Prioritise annual health checks and health action plans, reasonable adjustments, diagnostic overshadowing, supported communication, decision-specific capacity, safeguarding, epilepsy, constipation, mental health and medication review.
What is diagnostic overshadowing?
Diagnostic overshadowing is when symptoms are incorrectly attributed to a person's learning disability rather than investigated as possible physical or mental illness. In AKT questions, the safest answer usually looks for a treatable cause.
Who can have a learning disability annual health check?
In England, people aged 14 or over on their GP practice learning disability register can have a free annual health check, with an updated health action plan after the review.
Official sources
This is revision guidance, not official RCGP advice. Check current RCGP, NICE, NHS, safeguarding, local learning disability and BNF guidance for clinical decisions. Last reviewed June 2026.
October sitting
Oct 26
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days
Keep moving, even on tired days.
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