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A learning disability is a permanent condition. It affects a person’s ability to understand information, learn new skills or communicate. It can also affect how they manage daily living. A learning disability can be genetic. It could be due to illness or physical damage to brain development either before or during birth or as a young child.
Learning disabilities can be mild, moderate or severe. Some people with learning disabilities may also have other needs. Other needs may arise from physical disabilities, long-term health conditions, autism or mental health.
A diagnosis is the formal identification of Learning Disability. This is by a health professional such as a clinical psychologist. Having a diagnosis may be helpful for two reasons:
Contact your GP if you would like more information or help with a diagnosis.
A diagnosis is the formal identification of Learning Disability. This is by a health professional such as a clinical psychologist. Having a diagnosis may be helpful for two reasons:
Contact your GP if you would like more information or help with a diagnosis.
If you are a young person who is currently receiving help from your local authority Children's Services department, you can find useful information about preparing to be an adult and whether you may be eligible for help from Adult Social Care on the pages below:
For Hampshire County Council residents
Hampshire Local Offer - Preparation for adulthood
Adults' Health and Care - Transition to adulthood
For Southampton residents
For Portsmouth residents
If you are a young person who is currently receiving help from your local authority Children's Services department, you can find useful information about preparing to be an adult and whether you may be eligible for help from Adult Social Care on the pages below:
For Hampshire County Council residents
Hampshire Local Offer - Preparation for adulthood
Adults' Health and Care - Transition to adulthood
For Southampton residents
For Portsmouth residents
People with learning disabilities will need health care in the same way as everyone else. Some people with a learning disability will have additional health needs. For example, people with a learning disability are more likely to have epilepsy. They may need more support to understand information about their health. They may need help to communicate symptoms and concerns and to manage their health.
Anyone who is on their GP's learning disability register can have a free health check once a year. Mencap have information about annual health checks available in Easy Read. You can ask to go on the learning disability register if you think you have a learning disability. Mencap have Easy Read guides which explain how to get support from the doctor at your GP surgery, and how to join the learning disability register.
The EasyHealth website has over 400 leaflets, and videos, about physical and mental health for people with learning disabilities It also includes easy read information that health professionals can use. This will help them to help explain health issues and treatments to patients with a learning disability.
The Health Swap app is an easy and fun way for people with a learning disability, and their parents or carers, to make positive changes to their lifestyle. It helps you find ways to eat more healthy food and to track activity whilst also improving your digital skills.
The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust runs learning disability services in Hampshire.
It is estimated that 40% of adults with a learning disability also have mental health needs. Mencap can offer information and advice about mental health.
Anxiety UK provides information and advice to anyone living with anxiety, or their families or carers.
People with learning disabilities will need health care in the same way as everyone else. Some people with a learning disability will have additional health needs. For example, people with a learning disability are more likely to have epilepsy. They may need more support to understand information about their health. They may need help to communicate symptoms and concerns and to manage their health.
Anyone who is on their GP's learning disability register can have a free health check once a year. Mencap have information about annual health checks available in Easy Read. You can ask to go on the learning disability register if you think you have a learning disability. Mencap have Easy Read guides which explain how to get support from the doctor at your GP surgery, and how to join the learning disability register.
The EasyHealth website has over 400 leaflets, and videos, about physical and mental health for people with learning disabilities It also includes easy read information that health professionals can use. This will help them to help explain health issues and treatments to patients with a learning disability.
The Health Swap app is an easy and fun way for people with a learning disability, and their parents or carers, to make positive changes to their lifestyle. It helps you find ways to eat more healthy food and to track activity whilst also improving your digital skills.
The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust runs learning disability services in Hampshire.
It is estimated that 40% of adults with a learning disability also have mental health needs. Mencap can offer information and advice about mental health.
Anxiety UK provides information and advice to anyone living with anxiety, or their families or carers.
People with learning disabilities are living longer, thanks to better medicine, care and community support. If a person with a learning disability develops dementia, they will face different and additional challenges to people who do not have a learning disability. People with Down’s syndrome are at a higher risk of developing dementia, find out more about dementia and Down’s syndrome. Alzheimer’s Research UK and Nottingham City SPLAT have created an Easy Read guide to explain dementia, as well as information in Easy Read for family and carers.
Find out more information from the Alzheimer’s Society.
Symptoms
Knowing the symptoms can help you to get the appropriate assessments as early as possible. These include:
· Changes in daily living skills
· Differences in the way you approach tasks
· Changes to memory, reasoning or language.
It is recommended that every adult with Down’s syndrome is assessed by the time they are 30 to provide a record, or ‘baseline’ to compare future assessments with.
Getting a diagnosis.
It can sometimes be difficult to get a dementia diagnosis for a person with a learning disability. The understanding of learning disabilities and dementia amongst healthcare professionals varies and symptoms can be missed. If you need support with getting a diagnosis, call the Dementia UK helpline on 0800 888 6678 and ask to speak to a specialist dementia nurse.
If you support someone who has a learning disability, it’s important that you recognise dementia symptoms, as you know the person you care for well. Just as every person with a learning disability is different, so is every person with dementia. With the right care and support, it’s possible for you and the person you care for to live well with dementia.
People with learning disabilities are living longer, thanks to better medicine, care and community support. If a person with a learning disability develops dementia, they will face different and additional challenges to people who do not have a learning disability. People with Down’s syndrome are at a higher risk of developing dementia, find out more about dementia and Down’s syndrome. Alzheimer’s Research UK and Nottingham City SPLAT have created an Easy Read guide to explain dementia, as well as information in Easy Read for family and carers.
Find out more information from the Alzheimer’s Society.
Symptoms
Knowing the symptoms can help you to get the appropriate assessments as early as possible. These include:
· Changes in daily living skills
· Differences in the way you approach tasks
· Changes to memory, reasoning or language.
It is recommended that every adult with Down’s syndrome is assessed by the time they are 30 to provide a record, or ‘baseline’ to compare future assessments with.
Getting a diagnosis.
It can sometimes be difficult to get a dementia diagnosis for a person with a learning disability. The understanding of learning disabilities and dementia amongst healthcare professionals varies and symptoms can be missed. If you need support with getting a diagnosis, call the Dementia UK helpline on 0800 888 6678 and ask to speak to a specialist dementia nurse.
If you support someone who has a learning disability, it’s important that you recognise dementia symptoms, as you know the person you care for well. Just as every person with a learning disability is different, so is every person with dementia. With the right care and support, it’s possible for you and the person you care for to live well with dementia.
An advocate is a person who supports and helps you to explain things. An advocate helps you say what you want if you find it difficult to do by yourself.
Advocates can help you:
Finding an advocate for yourself or someone you know
The Advocacy People is an independent charity. They provide free, independent advocacy to help sort out issues or concerns you may have. This could be about your health and wellbeing or your health and social care services. They help people to speak out, access their rights and have more control over their lives.
An advocate is a person who supports and helps you to explain things. An advocate helps you say what you want if you find it difficult to do by yourself.
Advocates can help you:
Finding an advocate for yourself or someone you know
The Advocacy People is an independent charity. They provide free, independent advocacy to help sort out issues or concerns you may have. This could be about your health and wellbeing or your health and social care services. They help people to speak out, access their rights and have more control over their lives.
Care technology - sometimes called Telecare - is equipment that can help to support people who wish to remain independent in their own homes and even when they are out in the community. It provides them, their carers, family and friends, with the reassurance that help is available to them in an emergency 24 hours a day seven days a week. Care technology solutions are increasingly being used to help adults with learning disabilities.
See more information about care technology.
Care technology - sometimes called Telecare - is equipment that can help to support people who wish to remain independent in their own homes and even when they are out in the community. It provides them, their carers, family and friends, with the reassurance that help is available to them in an emergency 24 hours a day seven days a week. Care technology solutions are increasingly being used to help adults with learning disabilities.
See more information about care technology.
Our Community directory has local and national groups, services and activities for people with a learning disability.
Mencap provides support and information. You can also use their website to search for a Mencap group in Hampshire
The Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities works with people and their families to make their lives better. They have a free guide with tips on how to stay safe in social media and online.
The British Institute of Learning Disabilities works with people and their families to help them get the support they need to lead their own lives.
The Down's Syndrome Association helps people with Down’s Syndrome as well as their families and carers.
Find out about services for adults with learning disabilities provided by Hampshire County Council, Portsmouth City Council and Southampton City Council.
Young people in transition from Children's Services are supported by the Independent Futures Team.
A sunflower lanyard can be worn to indicate discreetly to staff and others that they have a hidden disability and may need additional support or help. You can purchase a sunflower lanyard from Hidden Disabilities, or Google 'Sunflowers Lanyard'
Our Community directory has local and national groups, services and activities for people with a learning disability.
Mencap provides support and information. You can also use their website to search for a Mencap group in Hampshire
The Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities works with people and their families to make their lives better. They have a free guide with tips on how to stay safe in social media and online.
The British Institute of Learning Disabilities works with people and their families to help them get the support they need to lead their own lives.
The Down's Syndrome Association helps people with Down’s Syndrome as well as their families and carers.
Find out about services for adults with learning disabilities provided by Hampshire County Council, Portsmouth City Council and Southampton City Council.
Young people in transition from Children's Services are supported by the Independent Futures Team.
A sunflower lanyard can be worn to indicate discreetly to staff and others that they have a hidden disability and may need additional support or help. You can purchase a sunflower lanyard from Hidden Disabilities, or Google 'Sunflowers Lanyard'