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What is a Learning Disability? Understanding Learning Disabilities
Written by
Georgina, Founder of Purpl
Published on
November 13, 2025
In the UK, a learning disability is a lifelong condition that involves reduced intellectual ability and difficulties with everyday activities, with onset before adulthood. This can affect understanding new or complex information and coping independently, and support needs range from mild to profound. With accessible education, healthcare and the right support, people with learning disabilities can learn new skills, work, and live fulfilling lives.
At a Glance
- A learning disability affects how a person learns and manages daily activities, starting before adulthood. See, GOV.UK – Learning Disability Guidance
- It’s lifelong and ranges from mild to profound. See, NHS.UK – Learning Disability Overview
- It is different from specific learning difficulties (e.g., dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia).
- Support needs vary: some people live independently; others need regular support.
In this Article
- What Is a Learning Disability?
- Causes of Learning Disabilities
- Learning Disabilities vs Learning Difficulties
- Common Learning Disabilities in the UK
- Specific Learning Disabilities (SpLD)
- Is ADHD a Learning Disability?
- Is Autism a Learning Disability?
- Signs & Support Needs
- Tests and Diagnosis
- Most Common Special Educational Needs in England
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Final Thoughts
What Is a Learning Disability?
A learning disability is a condition that affects how someone understands and interacts with the world. In other words, it influences the way information is processed and, as a result, can impact important skills such as communication, problem-solving, and memory.
People with a learning disability might need help with things such as:
- Reading or writing
- Understanding instructions
- Managing money or time
- Making independent decisions
- Navigating social situations
Each person’s experience is different. Some people may live independently, while others require long-term or daily support.
Causes of Learning Disabilities
Learning disabilities arise when the brain develops differently before, during or soon after birth. Causes include genetic conditions (e.g., Down’s syndrome, Fragile X), prematurity, birth complications (e.g., hypoxia), and early brain injury/infection. Sometimes no cause is found.
Before birth:
They may occur due to genetic factors, such as Down’s syndrome or Fragile X syndrome. Additionally, exposure to alcohol, drugs, or certain infections during pregnancy can also increase the risk.
During birth:
A learning disability can develop if there is a lack of oxygen to the brain. In other cases, premature birth or a low birth weight may contribute to developmental challenges.
After birth:
Sometimes, early life experiences play a role. Brain infections like meningitis or encephalitis, as well as head injuries, severe neglect, or early trauma, can affect brain development.
Altogether, these factors can influence how a person learns, communicates, and understands the world around them.
Purpl Tip: Ask early for assessments. If you suspect a child may have a learning disability, contact your local authority to request an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) assessment. Early support can make a lasting difference.
Learning Disabilities vs Learning Difficulties
Although the terms are often used together, they mean different things.
A learning disability affects overall intellectual ability and adaptive (daily-living) skills, with onset in childhood.
A learning difficulty/SpLD affects a specific area of learning (e.g., reading, writing, coordination, number) without affecting overall intelligence.
Examples of difficulties include dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD, and dyscalculia.
It’s possible for someone to have both a learning disability and a learning difficulty.
Common Learning Disabilities in the UK
Conditions commonly associated with a learning disability include: Down’s syndrome; Fragile X syndrome; Williams syndrome; global developmental delay (term used in early childhood); and some people with cerebral palsy or autism may also have a learning disability. (CP and autism themselves are not learning disabilities.)
For more information, see NHS – Learning Disabilities.
Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD)
In UK usage, Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD) most commonly include dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dyspraxia (also known as Developmental Coordination Disorder – DCD). Dysgraphia is also recognised in some contexts.
Conditions such as Auditory Processing Disorder (APD), Visual Processing Disorder (VPD), Nonverbal Learning Disorder (NVLD), and Language Processing Disorder are not consistently recognised as SpLD diagnoses in UK medical or educational guidance.
For more detail, see the British Dyslexia Association Guidance on Specific Learning Difficulties.
Is ADHD a Learning Disability?
No. ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition; it can make learning harder but is not a learning disability. See, NHS.UK – ADHD in Children and NHS.UK – ADHD in Adults.
It’s a condition that affects focus, energy, and impulse control. However, ADHD can make learning more challenging, and many people with ADHD also experience learning difficulties such as dyslexia or dyspraxia.
Is Autism a Learning Disability?
No. However, around one in three autistic people also have a learning disability (varies by age). See, Autistica.ORG.UK – Learning Disability & Autism.
Signs and Support Needs
Signs can vary widely from mild to profound, but in the UK professionals understand a learning disability through difficulties with intellectual functioning and everyday (adaptive) activities that start before adulthood. They usually describe these needs across three main domains:
Conceptual (thinking and understanding)
- Difficulty understanding new or complex information and learning new skills.
- Takes longer to process information and may need instructions broken into smaller steps.
- Challenges with planning, problem-solving and handling money or time.
Social (communication and relationships)
- Difficulties with expressive and receptive communication (e.g., understanding nuance, explaining needs).
- Needs support to make or maintain friendships and to navigate social situations safely.
Practical (daily living)
- Needs support with day-to-day tasks such as cooking, dressing, personal care or travel.
- May require consistent routines and additional time to learn new routines or concepts.
Important: In the UK, professionals class reading, writing, or number-specific difficulties (such as dyslexia or dyscalculia) as Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD), and these conditions do not, on their own, indicate a learning disability. People can have both.
Early identification and the right support make a significant difference to confidence, independence and health outcomes.
Purpl Insight: Celebrate different strengths. Every person with a learning disability has unique abilities — creative, practical or social. Recognising and building on these strengths helps grow confidence and independence.
Tests and Diagnosis
There is no single test. Diagnosis is based on cognitive assessment (intellectual functioning) and adaptive behaviour, alongside medical/developmental history. In the UK this may involve paediatricians, clinical or educational psychologists, and NHS learning disability teams. See, Patient Health Information.
Diagnosis might involve a combination of:
- Developmental and medical history
- Cognitive and educational assessments
- Observations by educational psychologists
- Speech, language, and occupational therapy evaluations
- Genetic or neurological testing (if needed)
Assessments can take place through schools, the NHS, or private specialists. Early diagnosis helps ensure the right support is provided as soon as possible.
Most Common Special Educational Needs in England
According to the Department for Education’s latest release (published 12 June 2025), 5.3% of pupils in England have an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan and 14.2% receive SEN Support. The most common primary needs differ by provision type.
For pupils with an EHC plan
- Autistic spectrum disorder (ASD): 33.6% (most common)
- Speech, language and communication needs (SLCN): 20.7%
These figures reflect pupils whose primary need is recorded as ASD or SLCN in the school census.
For pupils on SEN Support
- Speech, language and communication needs (SLCN): 25.7% (most common)
- Social, emotional and mental health (SEMH): 23.6%
- Moderate learning difficulty (MLD): 14.4%
These data come from the same 2024/25 school census and show the leading recorded primary needs for pupils supported at school without an EHC plan.
Note: Education is devolved, so these statistics apply to England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland publish separate figures.
How support is delivered
Depending on assessed needs, support is provided either through SEN Support (additional or different help in school) or, where needs are more complex, through a statutory Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan.
Purpl Tip: Encourage inclusion. Accessible teaching and environments benefit everyone — not just those with identified needs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is considered a learning disability in the UK?
IIt means a person has significantly reduced intellectual ability and finds everyday tasks more difficult. Professionals diagnose it before adulthood, and it affects how someone learns and develops independence.
Can you develop a learning disability later in life?
By definition, no—onset is before adulthood. An acquired brain injury can cause similar support needs but would not usually be termed a “learning disability” in UK health policy.
Is dyslexia a learning disability?
In the UK, dyslexia is classed as a specific learning difficulty, not a learning disability.
Can people with learning disabilities live independently?
Yes — with the right support, many people live independently, work, and lead fulfilling lives.
Who diagnoses learning disabilities in the UK?
Paediatricians and psychologists (clinical/educational) are typical; adult diagnoses come via specialist NHS learning disability services.
Final Thoughts
A learning disability doesn’t define intelligence; instead, it shapes how someone learns, understands, and interacts with the world.
With that in mind, when inclusive education, understanding, and the right support are in place, people with learning disabilities can truly build confidence, gain independence, and live happy, fulfilling lives.
Because everyone deserves the opportunity to thrive.
Sources
- DHSC / GOV.UK: formal definition and onset before adulthood.
- NHS: condition overview; PMLD; cerebral palsy page noting possible learning disabilities.
- NHS England: LD vs learning difficulty explanation.
- Mencap: plain-English explanations of LD vs learning difficulties and causes.
- DfE (Explore Education Statistics, 12 June 2025): latest SEN categories and EHCP prevalence (England).
- Autistica: proportion of autistic people with a learning disability (~1 in 3; varies by age).
About the Author
Georgina is the founder of Purpl, a platform dedicated to helping disabled people save money through exclusive discounts. Living with both Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and ADHD, she understands firsthand the financial challenges that often come with managing a disability. Because of this, her mission is to collaborate with brands to secure discounts that help ease the cost of essential products, services, and everyday expenses for the disabled community.
As an ambulatory wheelchair user, Georgina also knows how it feels to lose a sense of independence due to a disability. For that reason, she’s deeply passionate about using holistic therapies and diet to manage inflammation and stay as healthy as possible. Ultimately, her goal is to make Purpl a trusted, go-to resource for disabled people — one that provides not only discounts but also practical advice, emotional support, and genuine financial relief.
Beyond Purpl, Georgina has a long-term vision to launch a foundation that will offer grants and funding for disabled people who need additional financial support. Through this, she hopes to create lasting change, empowering others to live with dignity, confidence, and choice.
Follow @Purpldiscounts on social media for the latest disability discounts, financial advice, and accessibility resources.
Other articles, or links, you might find useful:
What Illnesses Qualify for Disability Living Allowance & PIP?
Why We Need to Talk About Disability and Mental Health
Is Dyslexia Considered a Disability in the UK?
Is ADHD Considered a Disability in the UK?
Is MS Considered a Disability in the UK?
Is Autism Considered a Disability in the UK?
Is Diabetes a Disability in the UK?
