What Is A Learning Disability

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A formal definition of 'learning disabilities' or 'intellectual disabilities' includes the presence of:

'A significant intellectual impairment and deficits in social functioning or adaptive behaviour (basic everyday skills) which are present from childhood.'

• Source: Learning Disabilities The Fundamental Facts, E.Emerson et al., 2001, the Mental Health Foundation.

'Significant intellectual impairment' is sometimes defined in terms of an IQ level, in the UK of below 70 (with a score of below 50 seen as indicating the presence of 'severe' learning disabilities). 'Social functioning' means learning and maintaining basic skills such as communication or personal care skills. Deficits of skills or capacity in either area is often hard to assess and evidence is drawn from a wide range of sources.

This definition does not include adults with head injury,dementia or who have a temporary intellectual impairment due to mental illness (though, of course it is recognised that people with learning disabilities may experience mental illness).

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