Learning disability
Learning disability
A learning disability is a serious, lifelong condition that affects how a person develops. If you have a learning disability, you may need help to:
- understand information
- learn new skills
- manage daily life on your own
A learning disability affects each person differently. No two people are the same.
Most people have a learning disability from birth or early childhood. With the right support and opportunities, people with a learning disability can still learn and grow.
It is sometimes called an intellectual disability.
What is the difference between a learning disability and a learning difficulty?
A learning disability affects every part of daily life, including social, emotional, practical and educational skills.
A learning difficulty makes one specific skill harder to learn. For example, dyslexia (reading), dyspraxia (coordination) and dyscalculia (numbers). This is sometimes called a specific learning difficulty.
A person can have both a learning disability and a specific learning difficulty at the same time.
Learning disability and Down's syndrome
Down's syndrome is a genetic condition. Everyone with Down's syndrome has some degree of learning disability.
Learning disability and autism
About one in three people with a learning disability is also autistic.
Read more about autism.
Common Symptoms
Symptom information is not available for this condition yet.
⚠️ This symptom list is for educational purposes. Having these symptoms does not mean you have this condition. See a doctor for proper diagnosis.
Medicines Commonly Used
⚠️ These medicines are commonly used for confirmed diagnoses of this condition. This is NOT a recommendation or prescription. Treatment must be determined by your doctor.
No medicines have been linked to this condition yet.
Causes
What causes a learning disability?
Doctors can't always say for sure what caused it.
A learning disability can start at different times.
It can happen before birth, for example because of:
- a genetic condition such as Down's syndrome, Fragile X syndrome or Edward's syndrome
- an infection during pregnancy
- exposure to toxins like alcohol or drugs during pregnancy
It can happen during birth, for example because of:
- premature birth
- a lack of oxygen
- injury during birth
It can also happen after birth, for example because of:
- an infection such as meningitis
- an accident or head injury
- seizures or an illness in early childhood
- exposure to toxins like alcohol or drugs
Diagnosis
A learning disability can be diagnosed at any age. Diagnosis means a doctor or other health professional tells you that you have a condition.
A child may be diagnosed at birth or in early childhood. For others, a diagnosis may not come for many years, and some people are never diagnosed at all.
Getting a diagnosis can feel difficult and emotional, but it can help you access the care and support you need going forward.
If you think you or a loved one may have a learning disability, speak to your GP practice.
Complications
Learning disability and health
With the right support, people with a learning disability can lead happy, full lives. How much support you need depends on you. Some people need only a little help with specific tasks, like catching the bus or managing household chores. Others need more care and support with many parts of daily life.
Someone with a learning disability can have the same health conditions as anyone else. However, some conditions are more common among people with a learning disability, including:
- respiratory problems such as pneumonia and acute respiratory infections
- some types of cancer
- diabetes
- epilepsy
- constipation
- mental health conditions
- sensory and hearing impairments
- gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD)
- dyspepsia
- dementia
Sometimes people with a learning disability don't get the help they need for health conditions and illnesses. Communication and sensory differences can make it hard for a person with a learning disability to recognise and explain their symptoms.
People with a learning disability are entitled to the same healthcare services as everyone else. This includes dental care, health screening, and mental health support.
Annual health check
If you have a learning disability, you're entitled to an annual health check every year from the age of 16. Read more about annual health checks for people with a learning disability.
Learning disability services
Learning disability services are tailored to the needs of people with a learning disability. These services provide:
- specialist healthcare
- treatment
- support for families and carers
- help for other health and social care teams
Support can vary depending on where you live. Speak to your GP practice to find out what's available in your area. You could also check your local health board's website for details of learning disability services near you. Some learning disability services work with both children and adults, while others work only with adults.
Learning disability nurses
Learning disability nurses support people with a learning disability from birth through to end of life care. They also support families and carers of people with a learning disability. Learning disability nurses work across all settings, including:
- hospitals
- communities
- schools
- social care
There are learning disability nurses in each local health board, so contact your local learning disability nursing team for more information. They work as part of a wider team, alongside professionals such as:
- social workers
- psychiatrists
- occupational therapists
- speech and language therapists
- psychologists
Getting support for a child or young person with a learning disability
Health, education and social care services should work together with you and your child to find out what support they need. Support can vary depending on where you live. They should then put a plan in place, known as a co-ordinated support plan, which should support your child until they transition to adult services.
If you're a parent or carer of a child or young person with a learning disability and you're worried about their health, speak to their GP practice, health visitor, or school nurse.
Getting support for an adult with a learning disability
Your local council's social care team should work with you to find out what support you need. This process is called a needs assessment, and support can vary depending on where you live. Your family, carer or support worker can help you with this if you need them to.
You can find out how to get an assessment of your care needs, and Self Directed Support (SDS) Scotland also has information about needs assessments. If you're the family member, partner or friend of someone who needs ongoing care or support, you can read about working and supporting someone's health or care on gov.uk.
Advocacy support
Everyone has the right to support from another person to help express their views and wishes, for example at a healthcare appointment. This person is called an advocate. Advocates can be helpful if you find it difficult to communicate your views, or if you need other people to listen to you and take your views into account. Read more about advocacy.