The child with general learning disability:
information for parents, carers and anyone who works with
young people
Reading about Self-Help:
About this leaflet
This is one in a series of leaflets for
parents, teachers and young people entitled Mental Health and
Growing Up. The aims of these leaflets are to provide
practical, up-to-date information about mental health problems
(emotional, behavioural and psychiatric disorders) that can affect
children and young people.This leaflet describes what a general
learning disability is and the possible causes.It also provides
practical advice about the help that is available to young people
with a general learning disability and their families.
What is meant by learning disability?
Learning disability used to be known as mental
handicap or mental retardation. Other terms sometimes used are
general or global developmental delay. A child with a
general learning disability finds it more
difficult to learn, understand and do things compared to other
children of the same age. Like all children and young people,
children with learning disabilities continue to progress and learn
throughout their childhood - but more slowly.
The degree of disability can vary greatly.
Some children will never learn to speak and so are likely when they
grow up to need help with looking after themselves - feeding,
dressing or going to the toilet. On the other hand, the disability
may be mild and the child will grow up to become independent.
General learning disability is different from
specific learning
difficulty which means that the person has
difficulties in one or two areas of their learning, but manages
well in other areas of their development. For example, a child can
have a specific learning difficulty in reading, writing or
understanding what is said to them, but have no problem with
learning skills in other areas of life.
What causes general learning disability?
Causes include genetic factors, infection
before birth, brain injury or damage at birth, brain infections or
brain damage after birth. Examples include Down's syndrome, Fragile
X syndrome and cerebral palsy. However, in many children with
general learning disability, the cause of the disability remains
unknown.
The effects of learning disability
Children or young people who have a general
learning disability are aware of what goes on around them. However,
their ability to understand and communicate may be limited, and
they can find it hard to express themselves. Speech problems can
make it even harder to make other people understand their feelings
and needs. They can become frustrated and upset by their own
limitations. When they compare themselves to other children, they
can feel sad or angry and think badly of themselves.
For a parent, it can be distressing to find
out that their child has a general learning disability. It may be
hard for them and other members of the family to understand why the
child is like this. It can also be hard to communicate with the
learning disabled child, difficult to manage their behaviour and
hard for other people to understand.
Brothers and sisters may be affected in a
number of ways. They may feel jealous of the attention given to
their disabled brother or sister or embarrassed by their behaviour.
They may even be teased at school. Quite often they can feel
personally responsible for their disabled sibling or their
distressed parent.
Learning disability and mental health
A general learning disability is not a mental
illness. However, children with learning disability are more likely
to develop mental health problems, for example anxiety, or have
additional developmental disorders, such as Autism Spectrum Disorders
and Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) than other
children.
What can be done to help?
It is important to recognise, as soon as
possible, that a child is learning and developing slowly. It is
only when the problem is recognised that the child and their family
can be offered the help and support they need. The health visitor
plays an important role in recognising slow development in the
years before school.
As the child gets older, a number of people
can help with the child’s particular needs. They will often work
together in a group known as the Child Development
Team. This team includes specialists such as community
paediatricians, nurses, psychologists and speech therapists. It
sometimes includes a child psychiatrist or other members of the
child and adolescent mental
health service (CAMHS). In some areas, there are
special services for children with learning disabilities (Community
Learning Disability Team). If necessary, a GP can refer the
child to one of these specialist teams.
School can be a particular challenge for
children with learning disabilities because of both the learning
and social demands. Local education departments can make special
arrangements to meet the educational needs of each child. However,
there is an expectation that most children will receive their
education in a mainstream inclusive environment. For example,
children who are able to cope comfortably with other people are
likely to attend an ordinary school, but have special forms of
teaching. On the other hand, a child with a more severe disability
may go to a special school.
For some children, an educational psychologist
will prepare a Statement of Special Educational
Needs. This sets out what special help the child needs and
takes into account the views and wishes of the child and their
parents.
All educational authorities have a Parent
Partnership Scheme to advise parents on educational provision.
In most areas, there are also other services.
Respite care and holiday play schemes can extend the learning and
social opportunities for the child. Parent support groups can put
families in touch with other people who are coping with similar
problems. The local social services department will be able to
advise, both on these opportunities and on the benefits to which
parents are entitled.
Disability does not stop a child from having a
full and enjoyable life. The aim of all the specialist services is
to help children with a general learning disability to have lives
that are as enjoyable and fulfilling as those of other people.
Recommended reading
References
- Rutter, M. & Taylor, E. (eds) (2008) 'Rutter’s Child
and Adolescent Psychiatry' (5th edn). London: Blackwell
Publishing.
- Gillberg, C. Harrington, R. & Steinhausen, H-C. (eds)
(2006) ‘A Clinician’s handbook of child and adolescent psychiatry’
(1.st edn) University Press Cambridge.
Sources of further information
Series editor: Dr Mona Freeman
Editorial Board: Child and Family Public
Education Editorial Board.
Revised: December 2009; next due for review: December
2011.
© [2004] Royal College of
Psychiatrists. This leaflet may be downloaded, printed out,
photocopied and distributed free of charge as long as the Royal
College of Psychiatrists is properly credited and no profit is
gained from its use. Permission to reproduce it in any other way
must be obtained from the Head
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directly.
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