Finding out about learning disability

What it is

What is a learning disability?

A learning disability is a lifelong condition of intellectual disability often starting at an early age. It results in a reduced ability to learn new skills, understand complex information or live independently. Learning disabilities have a lasting effect on development socially and educationally, and can often be combined with physical conditions such as reduced functional skills.

There are many definitions of learning disability - some clinical and some legal. A wider social definition is favoured for 'Understanding Individual Needs'.

Individuals with a learning disability have an intellectual disability, which is generally associated with the following:

• The condition causing the learning disability usually started at an early age, sometimes before the person was born. However, for most of the individuals who have a learning disability, the cause remains unknown
• There is a lasting effect on development; socially and educationally
• There is often, but not always, a degree of brain damage associated with the condition and this may lead to other challenges for the individual such as epilepsy, cerebral palsy and sensory impairments relating to vision and hearing
• There is a reduced ability to learn new skills and understand new ideas or complex information
• There is a reduced ability to cope and manage independently

Confusion with mental illness

There can sometimes be confusion between learning disability and mental illness. The main differences between the conditions are:

Learning disability is a lifelong condition. It often occurs at an early age. There is an intellectual disability and limitations in the ability to think. Individuals with a learning disability may have attended some form of special needs education. It is often combined with physical conditions including reduced functional skills.

There may be reduced ability to cope and manage independently. Personality is usually stable. People live an ordinary life with support in the community and do not need to be in long stay hospital settings.

Mental illness is not usually an illness of birth but develops in later life. It is not necessarily a life long condition. Some episodes of illness can be short and a one off, such as depression. Conditions can be treated and/or reversed. There is no intellectual disability.

Generally, a normal education has been experienced. Functional skills are usually learned (they may  possibly be diminished during an illness but will generally be regained on recovery). Illness may cause the personality to become temporarily unstable. A person's perception of the world or reality may change or become distorted. They may lose all contact with reality. There may be an exaggerated disorder of mood e.g. mania or depression. During an acute illness episode, hospitalisation may be the most appropriate way to meet the needs of the individual.