If you are wondering what a learning disability is, we hope this guide can help. At Complete Care Shop, we’ve taken a deep dive into the symptoms and signs of learning disabilities and want to help you have a better understanding of what living with a learning disability can be like. Before starting, we must stress that it’s important to always remember that there are a number of support services available to you, your child and your family, and you are not alone in this.

What is a learning disability?

The term 'learning disability' encompasses a variety of conditions and is relative to a brain-related state rather than a disease. It has an impact on an individual's cognitive capability so an individual that’s living with a learning disability may encounter challenges in acquiring skills and experience delays in their development. They may also experience difficulty understanding information and navigating the world compared to those without any learning disabilities.

It’s key to understand that a learning disability is not classed as a mental illness. It’s different to experiencing difficulties with learning, like dyslexia, for example. A learning disability is incurable and somebody that’s diagnosed will live with the condition throughout their entire life. A learning disability affects a person’s life to a certain degree, but there are different levels of severity and, on the whole, people tend to still live a full life with a learning disability.

In the UK right now, there are approximately 1.5 million people living with a learning disability, but it’s suspected that many more live with some level of learning disability and are unaware of it. Males are slightly more likely to have a learning disability than females and the age of learning disability diagnosis differs drastically, with some people being diagnosed in childhood and others not until late adulthood.

View a video from Mencap for more information on what a learning disability is.

What can cause a learning disability?

A learning disability occurs due to the brain failing to develop as it’s supposed to. This can happen before birth, during, or as a baby. For example, if a baby is deprived of oxygen during birth, or is prematurely born, there is a chance that their brain doesn’t develop the way it should.

Genetics can also play a part in the development of a learning disability, but this is not yet clear. In some cases, it’s impossible to confirm what actually causes a learning disability and it’s sometimes a symptom of other conditions, such as cerebral palsy, Down’s syndrome or epilepsy. For more information on what causes learning disabilitiesvisit the NHS website.

What are the symptoms of learning disability?

Learning disability symptoms can vary a lot and should be considered characteristics, difficulties, and behaviours rather than symptoms. Everybody who lives with a learning disability experiences it in their own unique way, and there are different types and levels for each individual.

A learning disability can cause a person to have difficulty learning new skills and processing information, but it can change over time. With the right help and support, an individual can learn and develop new skills and abilities but may come across different challenges as they get older. A toddler, for example, may learn to talk but will take longer than their peers and as they grow up, they may start to experience other difficulties due to their learning disability.

If you are concerned that your child is displaying signs of a learning disability, please consult your GP. The below list is not necessarily a sign of learning disability and lots of children develop at different rates.

For babies and toddlers, possible learning disability symptoms and characteristics include:

• Difficulties with feeding
• A delay in the ability to sit, stand, crawl, and walk
• Slower than usual language development

For school-age children, the signs include:

• Reading and writing difficulties
• Problems with mathematics
• Slow to learn new things
• Difficulty understanding information and following instructions

And the general signs to look out for are:

• Finding concepts like time and direction difficult to understand
• Memory problems
• Communication problems, such as small vocabulary or speaking slowly
• Finding it difficult to understand and follow a conversation
• Finding it difficult to understand the consequences
• Coordination problems

It’s key to note that not every person will experience all of these signs and difficulties. Some may have one or two, while others could experience several. Everyone will display different characteristics and find varying aspects of learning challenging.

How are learning disabilities diagnosed?

If you’re concerned in any way that your child – or even an adult in your life – is showing signs of a learning disability, it can help to discuss these with a GP. You may feel that a diagnosis may hinder your child but it actually means they’ll be more likely to get the support they need, for example, with their education. A diagnosis can help to understand any issues and challenges and alleviate any concerns.

It can actually take some time for a diagnosis to be confirmed. Parents, health visitors and teachers may all suspect that a child could have a learning disability and there may be many different health and social care professionals involved in the process.

The actual diagnostic process involves assessment by a team of professionals. They use a variety of methods, including tests, observations and interviews to evaluate the cognitive abilities, emotional well-being and academic skills of the individual. If there are consistent significant discrepancies found between the individual’s abilities and age-appropriate norms, a specific learning disability, like dyslexia, can be identified. This then leads to the creation of a tailored individual plan to provide support and includes regular monitoring and adjustments to ensure progress.

MENCAP provides a wealth of information about learning disability diagnosis.

What are the different types of learning disability?

The different types of learning disabilities are actually defined by levels of severity and are determined by how much the individual’s intellectual ability is affected. The different levels are:

• Mild learning disability
• Moderate learning disability
• Severe learning disability
• Profound and multiple learning disabilities

The type of learning disability a person has will have an impact on how their learning, abilities and daily life is affected. The more severe the learning disability is, the more support a person will require.

There are also various conditions that cause learning disability, or which learning disability is a sign of and likely to occur alongside. It can often be difficult to realise that somebody has a mild learning disability because they may simply experience minor difficulties with speech and writing. However, someone with severe or profound learning disabilities could need a lot more support in their daily life, not just in education. It’s key that you treat each person as an individual with their own abilities and focus on what they can do, or where they need help.

The following conditions often include some kind of learning disability:

• Down’s syndrome
• William’s syndrome
• Autism
• Asperger’s syndrome
• Fragile X syndrome
• Cerebral palsy

What is it like living with a learning disability?

Every individual who has a learning disability will experience life differently. It’s not possible to convey the signs and challenges a person may come across, but we have taken a look into what daily life may look like.

Impact on education

Some children with a learning disability may feel the benefit from attending a special needs school, while others may find a mainstream school is good enough to meet their needs, with support from a special educational needs coordinator (SENCO). MENCAP has lots of learning disability information about choosing a school and getting the right help for your child.

Becoming an adult

Some families experience difficulties when a child becomes too old to receive support from child-based services and transitions to adult services. There are usually many decisions to be made, like what to do after school. The key to this is planning ahead. Read MENCAP’s advice about transitioning to adulthood.

Mental health

Individuals living with a learning disability are occasionally more likely to have mental health problems like anxiety, depression and stress, and it’s thought that 40% of people with a learning disability have a mental health problem. If you or someone you know is experiencing mental health issues, MIND provides a wealth of information and support.

Independent living and housing

There are plenty of options for an adult with a learning disability to live independently or semi-independently and supported. For example, they can live in residential care homes, supported housing or in a shared lives scheme. Read more information from MENCAP on housing options.

What type of treatment is available for individuals with a learning disability?

As a learning disability is not a disease, there is no cure and no medication that can improve a person’s IQ or reverse the changes in the brain that have caused the condition.

Treatments for learning disabilities are focused on providing the right type of support throughout a person’s life so they’re given the chance to learn new skills, develop and become as independent as possible.

There are several types of specialist therapy programmes that provide treatment for children and adults with a learning disability, including:

• Art, music and dance - Creative therapies like art and dance can help motivate and empower people with learning disabilities. It can also allow them to express themselves and engage in communication with others.
• Occupational therapy - This type of treatment is designed to find ways for a child or adult to develop their organisational skills, life skills and daily activities.
• Physiotherapy - Designed to help develop an exercise regime or overcome possible mobility challenges.

Products for learning disabilities

There are many daily living aids that can assist an individual – both an adult and a child – available at Complete Care Shop. For example, we have a Nature Sound Pyramid that continually changes colours to provide a soothing and relaxing environment at night. We also have a Tactile Sensory Bag that’s filled with various textures and shapes to help improve sensory awareness.

For adults, we have specialised telephones that make it much easier to contact a loved one. For example, we have PhotoDECT Big Button Cordless Photophone that uses pictures of people to quickly contact rather than needing to remember and type out a phone number.

There are a number of other living aids that you can use to help support yourself or a loved one with a learning disability, so be sure to check out our complete range of products.

Should diet be a concern for somebody with learning disabilities?

Individuals with learning disabilities occasionally need support to eat healthily and to maintain a healthy weight. It can often be difficult for them to understand why eating healthy food is important and may find it hard to ignore unhealthy snacks and treats. This can lead to an increased risk of obesity, leading to further health problems.

For some people with a learning disability, they may not eat enough food, which leads to issues around being underweight. Adults who live independently could require support with shopping, preparing food and more.

If you are ever concerned about the weight of someone close to you who lives with a learning disability, we urge you to speak to their GP for advice.

Employment for people with a learning disability

Many people who live with a learning disability are capable of working and making a valuable contribution to their workplace. However, the actual number of people with learning disabilities in full-time employment is low. According to MENCAP, in 2021, just 5.1% of people with a learning disability were employed in England.

The issue is because there is a general lack of understanding from employers about what a learning disability is, and the abilities of someone with the condition. 

MENCAP has an employment service that helps find work for people with a learning disability, as well as helping them gain experience and how to cope with interviews and applications.

Support for people with learning disabilities

We sincerely hope that you have found this guide informative and supportive.

There are many ways to have a good quality of life if you have a learning disability, or if you’re caring for someone who does. Everyone with a learning disability is an individual and deserves understanding and support so they can develop their skills and enjoy plenty of opportunities in life.

There are a number of communities and resources we believe you can lean on for support, whether you live with learning disabilities or you care for somebody. They are:

• Choice Forum – This is an online support group for people with learning disabilities, as well as their families and friends.
• Scope Forum – This is an online group for sharing stories, advice and support.
• Carers Trust – A charity providing support and services for people who are unpaid carers, with information about benefits, assessments and your own wellbeing, as well as a network of local partners to seek advice from.
• Carers UK – A charity providing expert advice if you’re a carer for someone with a learning disability, as well as an online community that’s useful for support.
• Contact a Family – You can find a wide range of advice and guidance for families with disabled children as well as options for contacting each other for support.

You also have the option of using our expert help and advice section to read detailed information about certain conditions and treatments, and how you can support a family member. Alternatively, you can contact us to speak to a qualified occupational therapist.