Learning disability

‘Learning disability’ is an umbrella term for lots of different conditions. It is a brain condition, not a disease, and affects a person’s intellectual ability. A person with a learning disability is likely to find learning skills difficult and have some developmental delays. They may find understanding information and the world around them, more difficult than other people.

Symptoms of learning disability are really varied, but may involve taking longer to learn certain skills. Some people may have problems with particular areas, for example, with communication, reading, writing or understanding instructions.

Learning disability is not a mental illness. It is also different to having difficulties with learning, for example, dyslexia. A person with a learning disability will live with their condition throughout their life – it is not curable. Having a learning disability is likely to affect a person’s life to some degree, but there are different levels of severity. Many people live well with a learning disability.

There are around one and a half million people with a learning disability diagnosis in the UK, but it is suspected that many more live with some level of learning disability and are unaware of it – or are undiagnosed. Around 200 children are born with a learning disability in the UK every week. Males are slightly more likely to have a learning disability than females. The age of learning disability diagnosis differs drastically, with some people being diagnosed in childhood and others not until late adulthood.

To understand more about learning disability, view this video.

Learning disability occurs due to the brain not developing as it is supposed to. This sometimes happens before a baby is born, during birth, or as a young baby. For example, if a baby is deprived of oxygen during their birth, or is very premature, their brain may not develop properly which may lead to learning disability.

Genetics may also play a part, but this is not yet clear.

In some cases, it is impossible for specialists to confirm what causes learning disability.

Sometimes, learning disability is a symptom of other conditions, for example cerebral palsy, Down’s syndrome or epilepsy.

For more information on what causes learning disability visit the NHS website.

If you are concerned that your child is displaying symptoms of learning disability that we discuss below, please consult your GP. These are not necessarily signs of learning disability and lots of children develop at different rates.

Possible learning disability symptoms and characteristics include:

Not everybody will have all of these learning disability symptoms – some people may have one or two, others may have several. Everyone will display different characteristics and find different aspects of learning challenging.

If you are concerned that you or your child or even an adult in your life, may show signs of learning disability, it may help to discuss these with a GP. You may feel that a diagnosis of learning disability may be a hindrance to your child, but it actually means they are more likely to get the learning disability support they need, for example, through their education. A learning disability diagnosis can also help understand any issues and challenges, in order to find solutions for them.

The process of learning disability diagnosis can take some time. Parents, teachers and health visitors may all suspect that a child could have a learning disability. If you are concerned about your child, speak to your GP or health visitor in the first instance. Many health and social care professionals may be involved in the diagnostic process.

MENCAP provides a wealth of information about learning disability diagnosis.

There are also various conditions that cause learning disability, or which learning disability is a symptom of and likely to occur alongside, which we cover briefly below.

It may be difficult to tell if someone has a mild learning disability, as they may simply have some minor difficulties with speech, writing, etc. On the other hand, someone with severe or profound learning disabilities may need support in lots of areas of daily life. It is important to treat each person as an individual, with their own abilities, and to focus on what they can do or where they need help.

The following conditions often include some type of learning disability:

Some children with learning disability, and their families, as well as adults with learning disability, may experience challenges in areas of daily life such as:

The SENDirect website features lots of learning disability support services listed by area, so you can explore options for learning disability help at home, respite care, childcare, technology, training, adulthood transitions, and much more.

If you have a learning disability, know someone who has or are a carer for someone with learning disability, it can help to read personal stories of others sharing similar experiences. There are many people with learning disability that are able to work, socialise, enjoy hobbies and have a good sense of wellbeing – for example, read Sinead’s story here.

Learning disability is not a disease to be treated and it is a lifelong condition. Therefore, there is no cure and no medications that can improve IQ, reduce symptoms, or reverse the changes in the brain that have caused learning disability.

Learning disability treatments are therefore centred on providing the right support throughout a person’s life, so that they are given opportunities to develop, learn new skills and become as independent as possible.

There are many types of specialist educational and therapy programs that provide learning disability treatment for children and adults, for example:

Some people with a learning disability diagnosis may need to take medication to help reduce symptoms of other conditions.

There are many learning disability products available. Healthcare pRO are experts in providing daily living aids, which are products designed to help people live independently and make everyday tasks easier. Here, we list a range of daily living aids that may help both children and adults with learning disability, at home, school or when living independently.

This is only a very short list of products, and there are thousands of aids available to help with aspects of daily life, personal care, mobility, and so on. If you are unsure what learning disability aids for daily living are available to help you or your child, Healthcare Pro has a team of Occupational Therapist product advisors who can advise you. Contact them on 0345 121 8111 or email productadvice@healthcarepro.co.uk

People with a learning disability sometimes need support to eat healthily and to maintain a healthy weight. They may find it difficult to understand why eating healthy food is important, or find it harder to restrict snacks and treats.

Some conditions of which learning disability is a symptom, may lead to increased risk of becoming obese. Being overweight may lead to further health problems down the line.

Some people with a learning disability may not eat enough, or may be underweight, which is also an issue.

Adults with a learning disability who live independently may need support with shopping, cooking, preparing food and drinks, and so on.

If you are concerned about the weight of someone with learning disability, speak to their GP for advice.

For information on what a balanced diet is, visit the NHS website.

The NHS also provides information on teaching your child good eating skills.

Regular exercise is important for everybody and people with learning disability may need some help to become more active or develop an exercise regime. Anything that gets the body moving and the heart pumping counts as exercise. People with learning disability are often able to participate in lots of different exercise e.g. dance, team sports, yoga, swimming, etc. This easy read leaflet gives advice on how to get active with a learning disability.

Many people with learning disability are able to work and make a valuable contribution to their workplace and society but the amount of people that are actually in employment is small. Some people report it is hard to find work, and to get the right support to find work. There is a lack of understanding generally from employers about what learning disability is, and the abilities of someone with a learning disability.

Mencap provides lots of information and support in finding work for people with learning disabilities. Their Employ Me service helps find work for people with learning disability, as well as helping them gain experience and learn how to cope with interviews and applications. They also provide a Good for Business brochure which outlines the benefits of employing people with a learning disability.

Learning disability help is available from the NHS, your child’s educational establishment, and many charities. You are not alone, and here we provide links to other sites that provide help for learning disability as well as some online forums where you can discuss your experiences with other people. If you are concerned about anything you have read about in this guide, please visit your GP.

Choice Forum – an online support group for people with learning disabilities, their families and friends

Scope Forum – an online group for sharing stories, advice and support

Carers Trust – a charity providing support and services for people who are unpaid carers for family or friends, with a website including information about benefits, assessments and your own wellbeing, and a network of local partners where you can go for advice

Carers UK – a charity providing expert advice if you are a carer for someone with learning disability or any other condition, as well as an online community you can use for support

Contact a Family – lots of advice and information for families with disabled children, as well as options for contacting each other for support

NHS – source of medical and healthcare information about learning difficulties and related conditions

Mencap – a charity dedicated to learning disability, providing information, an advice helpline, local partner organisations and the FamilyHub online community

Chromosomal abnormality

– when a chromosome is missing or mutates to create changes in a person’s DNA, which may cause physical or mental differences

Developmental delays

– as a child ages, they will usually achieve certain physical and mental milestones at similar times to their peers, but some children with a learning disability will achieve these development milestones much later

Dyslexia

– a condition that causes problems with reading, writing and spelling, but which does not affect intelligence levels

Genetics

– related to genes, which are the building blocks of our inherited characteristics