What is a Learning Disability?
A Learning Disability is diagnosed when someone has a low intellectual ability (sometimes known as an IQ), which causes difficulty with everyday activities.
People with a Learning Disability will take longer to learn and may need extra support to understand complicated information and develop new skills.
Having a Learning Disability can affect all areas of someone’s life, such as their ability to socialise, follow rules, tell the time, travel and use money.
A Learning Disability will affect someone for their whole lives, but that does not mean they cannot lead a happy and fulfilling life and continue to develop new skills.
Learning Disabilities are often confused with Learning Difficulties, such as Dyslexia or Dyspraxia, but these are different. Learning Difficulties describe problems with specific areas of learning, but which do not have an overall impact on intelligence.
What causes a Learning Disability?
Learning Disabilities are caused by something affecting the development of the brain, either before birth, around the time of birth, or in early childhood.
This can be due to a genetic problem such as Down’s Syndrome, being born very early or having complications at the time of birth, having debilitating illnesses or injuries as a baby, or experiencing significant neglect in early life.
Learning Disabilities are more common in people with certain conditions such Autism Spectrum Disorder, Epilepsy and Cerebral Palsy.
However, Learning Disabilities can also occur on their own, without any other problems, and often the exact cause is not known.
Why is it important?
People with Learning Disabilities are more likely to develop physical and mental health problems than the general population. They can also find it more difficult to tell people about their symptoms and access healthcare, which means some problems are not recognised.
People with a Learning Disability should be offered an annual health check by their GP from the age of 14 years, and this continues into adulthood. Even if young people are still under the care of specialists or paediatricians, it is important that they attend these health checks so that their GP can get to know them.
All public services, including healthcare services, are required by law to make reasonable adjustments for people with disabilities to ensure their needs are met. The types of reasonable adjustments each person might need will be different. Some examples include being given information in a way that is easy to understand, allowing more time for appointments, and involving carers or family members.
Children and adults with a Learning Disability can be vulnerable to abuse and exploitation, and can also find it difficult to tell people if these things are happening. It is important that this vulnerability is recognised by those caring for them or working with them so that potential problems can be identified early.
The transition to adulthood can be a difficult time for all young people, but especially for those with a Learning Disability. They may lose the structure and support provided by schools, and have a change from children’s to adult’s social care and health services. They may also want to think about further education or getting a job, and about living independently, and might require extra help to achieve these things. Young People will be encouraged to make more of their own decisions if they are able to, and it is important to start planning for this period of change early.
Where can I find more information?
www.learningdisabilitymatters.co.uk
https://www.gateshead.gov.uk/article/2694/Gateshead-Local-Offer