Learning Disabilities

Introduction

This page is designed to give a summary of what a learning disability is and how having a learning disability affects someone. It is designed for people who have a learning disability and those who live with, care for, work with or are related to someone who has a learning disability.

According to the Office for National Statistics 2020, about 1.5 million people in the UK have a learning disability. This means around 2.16% of adults and 2.5% of children in the UK.

In Somerset, it is thought that between 3,500 to 12,350 people have a learning disability. Many people with mild learning disabilities may not be known to services or may not have a diagnosis. This is why we don’t know the exact number of people with a learning disability.

Research shows that people with a learning disability have worse mental and physical health than the general population. There are many reasons for this including: not understanding the importance of good health, difficulty booking appointments, services not meeting their needs and stigma Because of this, it is important that healthcare services make changes to help people with learning disabilities. These changes are called reasonable adjustments. Reasonable adjustments make sure everyone can get good quality healthcare and help reduce unfair differences in health.

There are lots of small steps people can take to feel better and stay healthy. Please look at the wellbeing advice and information on this website to find out more.

Understanding Learning Disabilities

A learning disability is defined as having a reduced intellectual ability which impact’s someone’s ability to function in day-to day life [Source: Definition | Background information | Learning disabilities | CKS | NICE]. This means someone with a learning disability may find it hard to learn new information, struggle to communicate with others and may need help with day-to-day activities. The level of help someone needs depends on how mild or severe their learning disability is.

There are four main causes of learning disabilities: genetic, infective, brain injuries and environmental. These can occur before birth, during birth or after someone is born.

Learning disabilities can be broken down into four different ‘levels’ based on how severe they are.

Categories of Learning Disabilities

Mild
Someone with a mild learning disability is mostly able to live independently and socialise with others. They may need help with more complex tasks.

Moderate
Someone with a moderate learning disability has basic language skills but would need some help with their day-to-day tasks.

Severe
Someone with a severe learning disability is only able to use basic words or hand gestures to communicate. They need more support and may have additional medical needs.

Profound and Multiple
Someone with a profound and multiple learning disability will find it difficult to communicate and may use non-verbal communication. They require much higher levels of support.

Top Tips for Support

There are lots of simple ways you can help someone with a learning disability live a long and healthy life. A good place to start is by looking at the webpages on this website. They have helpful information about how to live a healthy lifestyle. There are also specialist services in Somerset that support people with learning disabilities. You can find out more in the Local Services and Support section.

Annual health check

One of the best ways to help someone with a learning disability is to encourage them to have a free NHS annual health check. Anyone who is aged 14 or over with a learning disability can get a free annual health check once per year. At the health check, you can talk to a doctor or nurse about your health. They can help find health problems early so they can be treated. Your doctor should also give you a health action plan. This plan explains how to stay healthy. You can find more information about annual health checks here: Learning disabilities – Annual health checks – NHS

Flu vaccine

Getting your flu vaccine helps keep you safe and well. It lowers your chance of getting the flu, feeling unwell and passing flu on to others. You should get the flu vaccine every year to stay protected. Everyone with a learning disability who is over 6 months old can get a free flu vaccine in autumn. Support workers and family carers can also get a free flu vaccine if they get Carer’s Allowance or are the person’s main carer. You can get your flu vaccination at your GP surgery or your local pharmacy. You can find more information about flu vaccines here: Flu Jabs For People WIth A Learning Disability | Mencap

Understand your rights

If you have a learning disability, it’s important to tell your care or healthcare provider what reasonable adjustments you need. All public services (like Somerset Council and the NHS) must make these changes by law if you ask for them. Examples of reasonable adjustments include:

Having an appointment at a quieter time
Bringing a friend or family member with you
Getting easy-read information

You can find more information about reasonable adjustments here: Reasonable adjustments: a legal duty – GOV.UK

Reporting a death to NHS LeDeR

It is a tragic when anyone dies and it is unfortunately something that will affect us all. LeDeR is a program which helps the NHS learn what has happened when someone with a learning disability or an autistic person dies to try and make care better in the future.

When you report a death to LeDeR, trained reviewers look at health and care services to see if any support could be improved and prevent others from dying. By sharing information, you give a voice to the person who has died and help families and carers find answers. Reporting is simple and confidential. Anyone can report a death to LeDeR through their website: Report the death of someone with a learning disability or an autistic person

Myths and Facts

A myth is an idea about something that isn’t true. Myths can make life harder for people with learning disabilities by creating barriers and reinforcing stereotypes. They can make people with learning disabilities feel worse or stop them from asking for help when they need it. When we know the facts, we can support people with learning disabilities to enjoy life and feel happy.

Myth: All learning disabilities are the same.

Fact: A learning disability affects everyone differently. Some people may need help with reading, others with social skills or daily tasks. It is important to understand the how a learning disability affects each person so we can give them the right support.

Myth: A learning disability is the same as a learning difficulty.

Fact: A learning disability and a learning difficulty are not the same. A learning disability affects cognitive function and general intelligence. A learning difficulty (e.g. dyslexia & dyscalculia) doesn’t affect overall intelligence but affects how someone learns. Some people have both a learning disability and a learning difficulty.

Myth: A learning disability is a mental health condition.

Fact: A learning disability is different to a mental health condition. A mental health condition (e.g. depression or anxiety) affects someone’s mood and emotions; it doesn’t affect someone’s general intelligence or cognitive function like a learning disability does. Some people have both a learning disability and a mental health problem.

Myth: A learning disability can be cured.

Fact: Having a learning disability is a lifelong condition. It’s not something you can cure; it’s part of who someone is. People with a learning disability should be accepted and supported for who they are.

Myth: People with learning disabilities are “childlike.”

Fact: Having a learning disability does not mean someone is like a child. Adults with learning disabilities do all the same activities that adults without learning disabilities do (e.g. have a job, get a driving licence, have romantic relationships, have sex and drink alcohol). Treating adults with learning disabilities like children takes away their independence and can lower their self-esteem.

Myth: People with learning disabilities can’t learn.

Fact: People with learning disabilities can learn, although they may need extra support or time. Everyone learns in different ways, and different people with learning disabilities will require different levels of support. With the right support, people with learning disabilities can learn new skills, gain new knowledge and grow their confidence.

Local Services and Support

There are lots of local services that can help you if you have a learning disability.
These services can give you support that is right for you. Lots of health services also produce easy-read guides to help you look after your health. You can access services using the following links:

Somerset Council social care services: Care and support for adults
Connect Somerset support for people with learning disabilities: Support for people with learning disabilities
Somerset Foundation Trust learning disability services: Learning disability services – Learning Disabilities – Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
NHS Somerset ICB learning disabilities page: Learning Disabilities and Autism – NHS Somerset ICB
Sexual health easy-read resources from SWISH: Easy Read Resources – Swish Services
Mental health easy-read resources by Open Mental Health: Easy Read Guide to Good Mental Health in Somerset – Open Mental Health
Cervical screening easy-read resources by Somerset LMC: Best Interests Information for Cervical Screening Deferral – Somerset LMC
Public health services which anyone with a learning disability can access: Public Health Services
Easy-read resources library by Mencap: Easy Read library | Mencap

What to do if you’re concerned

This is the emergency number in the UK for the police, ambulance, fire service, or coastguard.

If something doesn’t feel right, it’s okay to speak up. You might be worried about your health, how someone is treating you, or something that’s happening around you. It’s important to know that your voice matters, and there are people who want to help.

Start by talking to someone you trust. This could be a family member, a friend, a support worker, or a teacher. You can also speak to your GP (doctor) or a social worker. If you don’t feel safe or are being hurt, you can call the police or contact the NHS Somerset learning disability First Response Service on 0300 1245016.

You can also get help from charities like Mencap or Discovery. They can explain things clearly and support you to make choices.

You don’t have to go through things alone. Asking for help is a strong and brave thing to do. People are here to listen and support you.

If you find it hard to explain how you feel, you can write it down, draw a picture, or use pictures and symbols to help you communicate.

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