About learning
disability
What is a learning disability?
A learning disability is a reduced intellectual ability and difficulty with everyday activities – for example household tasks, socialising or managing money – which affects someone for their whole life.
People with learning disability tend to take longer to learn and may need support to develop new skills, understand complicated information and interact with other people.
Source – Mencap
Different types of learning disability
There are different types of learning disability, which can be mild, moderate, severe or profound.
In all cases a learning disability is lifelong.
It can be difficult to diagnose a mild learning disability as the individual will often mix well with others and will be able to cope with most everyday tasks. However, they may need support in other areas of their life, such as filling out forms.
People with a severe learning disability or profound and multiple learning disability (PMLD) will need more care and support with areas such as mobility, personal care and communication. People with a moderate learning disability may also need support in these areas, but not definitely.
Source – Mencap
Learning disability support
The level of support someone needs depends on the individual.
For example, someone with a mild learning disability may only need support with things like getting a job, whereas someone with a severe or profound learning diability may need full time care and support with many or every aspect of their lives. They may also have physical disabilities.
People with certain specific conditions can have a learning disability too. For example, people with Down’s Syndrome and some people with autism have a learning disability.
Source – Mencap