Understanding Learning Disabilities

 Learning disabilities is an umbrella term that covers several different disabilities. Not only that, but each person can experience the disability differently. As a result, it’s imperative to have a broader understanding of what learning disabilities include, how they manifest and the ways in which you can support those affected. 

What is a learning disability?

Living with a learning disability can look different for everyone due to different conditions, contexts and communities. People who have a learning disability tend to take longer to learn and may need support in order to develop new skills, understand information or interact with others. Some individuals may also have difficulty completing everyday activities, such as household chores, socializing or money management.

As we never stop learning throughout our lives, a learning disability can affect someone from childhood to adulthood. However, with support, individuals can live full and independent lives. 

What are the types of learning disability?

Individuals with learning disabilities often have a condition that fits into one of three main categories - prenatal, perinatal and postnatal, which signifies whether the cause comes from birth, during birth or after.

As you’ll see from the examples we’ve provided below, these conditions aren’t synonymous with learning disabilities, however, many people experience them due to their syndrome, disorder or illness.

Down Syndrome

Down syndrome occurs due to the person having an extra chromosome. The consequences of this include physical differences, a greater risk of other conditions and often a mild to severe learning disability.  The condition will develop differently in each individual; some will need support only when learning, while others might need more complex care. 

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism on its own is not considered a learning disability, but around 50% of those with the disorder have varied abilities to learn and understand new information. It’s a neurological disorder, and can be at the mild, moderate or severe end of the spectrum. For more information about autism, check out our article here.

Cerebral Palsy 

Similar to autism, cerebral palsy is not considered a learning disability, it’s caused by damage to the brain. Due to the nature of the condition, around half of the people living with it experience physical and learning disabilities. 

Rett Syndrome

This condition is more common in females, and is another neurological condition. Whilst the initial development of Rett Syndrome may progress without many issues, the condition is progressive and can cause loss of physical and mental skills over time. 

Meningitis 

Meningitis is an example of a postnatal cause of learning disabilities. This infection causes brain inflammation which can trigger both long and short term effects including difficulties with memory, planning, concentration and/or reduced intellectual capacity. 

Brain Trauma

A brain injury can cause brain cells and neural pathways to collapse. The location of the trauma can impact whether the individual has a reduced ability to function mentally or physically. Since the brain controls many functions, learning disabilities will vary for each individual, and may also be recoverable depending on the situation. 

Learning Difficulties 

Learning difficulties are separate from disabilities; though distinguishing between the two can often be complex. A learning difficulty doesn’t affect general intelligence, whereas a learning disability is linked to an overall cognitive impairment. Learning difficulties typically describe challenges with a specific aspect of learning. 

For example:

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) - a short attention span and difficulty concentrating

• Dysgraphia - difficulties writing words or letters either in a correct order or a straight line

• Dyslexia - difficulties reading and writing

• Dyscalculia - difficulties with maths, numbers, telling the time and directions

• Dyspraxia - difficulties with movement and coordination

What are the signs of learning disabilities?

The main sign of any learning abilities is when there’s a difference between someone’s academic potential and performance. Each type of learning disability has it’s own symptoms, but in general, individuals may have difficulties with:

• Identifying letters, numbers, colours and symbols

• Counting

• Rhyming

• Sounding out words

• Organising

• Long term and short term memory

• Holding a pen correctly

• Handwriting legibility

• Staying on task

• Coordination

• Conceptualising for problem solving

These are just a few of the potential signs, and alone they’re not enough to determine if someone has a learning disorder. People may only show one sign, all the signs or maybe none at all, only a professional can give a final diagnosis. 

Diagnosing Learning Disabilities 

As learning disabilities can affect everyone differently, the way in which individuals are diagnosed can also vary. 

A child with a learning disability may display signs within their early years, or a doctor may notice them. Everyone develops at different rates, which means not everyone gets diagnosed early. Children who are at school may show frustrations when trying to process new information or meet school milestones. Teachers and school staff may notice the signs in a child, which could then lead onto further investigation. 

Those who have had learning disabilities from birth may only receive a diagnosis later in their adult life. This could mean that they’ve had to adapt and find their own ways of adapting without tailored support. 

People with learning disabilities as a result of a postnatal cause may only receive a diagnosis after their initial recovery from the trauma or illness. 

Learning Disability Tests

The types of assessments medical professionals use to test for learning disabilities include:

Medical Evaluation

To begin with, a professional will undergo a medical evaluation to ensure there are no underlying medical conditions that could be causing the challenges. These are often blood tests, or imaging tests. 

Education Assessment and Performance Evaluation

This is often used for those in education and involves the teacher or professor monitoring the individual’s behaviour across lessons. They’ll evaluate your child’s reading, writing and math ability and report back. 

Psychological Evaluation 

This type of assessment helps identify ADHD, anxiety, depression and oppositional defiant disorders. 

Cognitive Evaluation

This test typically includes both verbal and nonverbal intelligence testing (IQ testing). As well as checking for correct answers, oftentimes the preferred method of processing information will also be evaluated. 

Neuropsychological Assessment

A neurophysiologist does this assessment, and it tests for how brain conditions may affect behaviour and cognitive ability. It’s extremely useful in those with a central nervous system injury or illness, and it can map areas of the brain that correspond to specific learning strengths and weaknesses. 

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Supporting people with learning disabilities involves providing tailored assistance to help them live full and meaningful lives, fostering independence, promoting wellbeing and ensuring their safety. 

Now that you understand more about learning disabilities and difficulties, it’s time to start thinking about the ways in which we can support those affected - we’ll have a new article on that in the coming days.

Here at The SKA Group Ltd, our dedicated staff work hard to encourage the people we support to learn new skills, build meaningful relationships and achieve positive outcomes in their lives. We believe that with the right support in place, a fulfilling and independent life is possible for everyone. 

We are looking for caring, inspirational people who have a passion for helping others to join our team as support workers. When choosing a role in care, you are helping to make a difference whilst also pursuing a rewarding career. Get in touch with us today to see if we can match you to your perfect role