To fully integrate into a modern society, there are certain skills we are expected to learn throughout our lives. These enable us to be accepted and ‘fit in’ with the communities that we live in. It is how communities perceive those amongst us with a disability that can make full integration difficult.
Our role as care workers is to facilitate people who wouldn’t usually integrate into their communities as they would wish to ensure they fulfil their dreams and aspirations. The more exposed people are to those with disabilities, the more accepting they become. Care workers play a vital part in ensuring that communities are diverse and accepting of everybody.
What is Defined as a Learning Disability?
A learning disability affects the way a person learns new things throughout their life. A learning disability is different for everyone. No two people are the same. A person with a learning disability might require support with having information made accessible to them, learning some skills and/or looking after themselves or living alone.
A learning disability is different for everyone. Lots of people who have a learning disability can work, have relationships, live alone, and get qualifications. Other people might need more support throughout their life in certain areas.
Learning Disabilities vs Learning Difficulties
In general, a learning disability constitutes a condition which affects learning and intelligence across all areas of life, whereas a learning difficulty constitutes a condition which creates an obstacle to a specific form of learning but does not affect the overall IQ of an individual. For example, Down’s syndrome is classed as a learning disability, whereas dyslexia is classed as a learning difficulty, in that it only affects an individual’s relationship to the processing of information, usually manifested in problems with reading, writing, and spelling.
Types of Learning Disabilities
Learning disabilities cover a wide range of diagnoses that may affect someone’s ability to acquire new skills; they are often grouped according to cause.
Genetic learning disabilities
These are caused by abnormalities that occur in genes during the earliest stages of fertilisation and foetal development.
Hereditary learning disabilities
Disabilities caused by conditions passed on through the biological parents. This doesn’t mean that the parents necessarily had or have a learning disability, but that they carry it unexpressed in their genes.
Traumatic learning disabilities
These are caused by traumatic injury to the brain, for example, because of oxygen deprivation, an impact to the head, a virus, or a stroke.
Temporary learning disabilities
Sometimes a person may recover from a learning disability, as not all of them are lifelong. For example, if someone received a head injury, they may have resulting learning disabilities that affect speech, writing, and memory, but they can recover some or all of their previous ability through medical care and rehabilitation.
What can Cause a Learning Disability?
There are many different reasons why a learning disability can occur, from genetic and inherited conditions to physical damage to the brain. Common causes include:
Trauma
Any physical damage to the brain can cause a learning disability depending on where the brain is damaged. Disability can be temporary or permanent, and can affect any area of learning, from losing skills a person once had to being unable to speak, concentrate, remember, reason, or use logic.
Down Syndrome
During the process of fertilisation, the egg and sperm fuse and create individual chromosomes – 23 pairs. In Down’s Syndrome, an anomaly occurs called Trisomy 21, where cell division creates a second full or partial 21st chromosome, so there are 3 copies of chromosome 21 instead of just 2. Although it is genetic, it’s not usually an inherited condition, but risk factors include advanced maternal age, carrying genetic translocation of the 21st chromosome, and already having one child with Down Syndrome. In addition to resulting in learning disorders, it can also carry complications of heart defects, GI defects, immune disorders, spinal problems, and other physical health conditions. This means that an adult with Down Syndrome may require additional health and social care if they have physical conditions in addition to a learning disorder.
Autism
Autism is a neurological disorder linked to the genetic makeup of the brain and can have a hereditary aspect. It’s incorrect to think of autism in strict terms as a learning disability. In fact, many people with autism have very high intelligence and learn at a much more advanced level than neurotypical people. However, some people who are neuro-atypical can struggle to learn and develop social skills, become focussed on repetitive behaviours, develop fixations, and experience problems integrating fully into normal society; this is where a social carer may be of some help to ensure that they remain healthy, access their communities and avoid becoming isolated or developing mental health issues.
Rett Syndrome
This condition is caused by a mutation on the x chromosome, and for this reason most people affected are female as they carry 2 x chromosomes and therefore have double the risk factor of men. This causes changes in neurological and physical development, which becomes worse over time. This means that adults with this condition will be experiencing a level of deterioration worsening since childhood, and some people lose their ability to move and communicate.
Cerebral Palsy
This is a neurological disorder that is caused by damage to the white matter of the brain due to trauma, lack of oxygen, or infection. While it’s not a learning disability in itself, it can lead to this depending on what part of the brain is affected. If multiple parts of the brain are damaged, carers may work alongside healthcare professionals to assist the person with managing stiff or uncontrollable movement, poor balance and coordination, and poor fine motor skills.
Williams Syndrome
This syndrome is very rare because it requires a person to be born without at least 25 specific genes that are usually contained in chromosome 7. Usually, people with this syndrome experience difficulty with visual-spatial tasks (drawing, writing, building, etc) but have a good memory for repetitive memorisation and recall. They tend to be highly social and excitable, but can also experience attention deficit disorder, anxiety, and phobias.
Tourette’s Syndrome
This can occur before or after birth, and the exact cause is unknown although it can be caused by brain trauma. This syndrome primarily affects controlled movement and speech, so it can cause learning disability in many cases. Most adults with Tourette’s have difficulties with writing, reading, and mathematics, as well as fine motor skills.
Meningitis
This bacteria or virus causes inflammation of the protective lining around the brain and spinal column. It’s very dangerous, as the damage from the virus or bacteria as well as from high fever can cause hearing loss, memory difficulties, brain damage, movement problems, seizures, and learning disabilities. It’s these side effects from the infection that make it a possibility for a learning disorder.
Encephalitis
This is caused by a virus that infects the brain. The body’s immune system reacts to kill the virus by causing inflammation, high temperatures, and other symptoms that can unfortunately also cause damage to the brain. In severe cases, people can be left with speech impairments, hearing or vision defects, memory problems, paralysis, muscular weakness, and fatigue. These can affect the ability to learn and use skills necessary for an independent adult life, and for this reason, it’s included on the list of learning disorders.
Prenatal
Prenatal causes for learning disabilities include Down Syndrome, Rett Syndrome, Williams Syndrome, and Autism. They are called prenatal causes because the genetic abnormalities that result in the condition occur within the womb during early foetal development.
Perinatal
Perinatal causes for learning disabilities include cerebral palsy and Tourette’s Syndrome. They are known as perinatal causes because the risk factors for a person developing these disorders come into play in the very last days before birth, during the birth process, or just after birth.
Postnatal
Postnatal causes for learning disabilities include meningitis, encephalitis, and brain trauma. They are called postnatal causes because they can occur and cause learning disorders at any point after birth, including as an adult.
How are Adults Tested & Diagnosed with Learning Disabilities?
This is a clinical process where medical professionals (including neurologists, psychiatrists, and other specialists) can review a person’s learning and thinking differences. As part of review, which includes learning disability assessments, the specialist will look at their developmental, educational, medical, and family history as well as anything else significant to their learning abilities. This must be conducted by someone licensed to diagnose learning disabilities, but a social worker, doctor, nursing staff, or GP can assist and be part of the assessment process.
How are Adults with Learning Disabilities Supported?
In addition to support from relevant medical specialists, adults with learning disabilities will be offered a Care Act assessment which will identify if they are eligible to receive social care services from dedicated social care workers and social care networks throughout the UK. A package of care may include access to resources and services that support independence.
Bespoke care plans are developed to ensure a person’s needs are being met. For example, a person may hold a job and be able to live fairly independently but need support with transport or managing a medical condition. In contrast, a person may need 24:7 support from a caregiver.
Most of us will, at some point in our lives, require some level of care as we become older to ensure that we remain safe and continue to thrive in our communities. This may be more pertinent for those who have additional needs.
It is vitally important for local authorities and health and social care workers to be able to provide that assistance as and when it is needed, to understand how to work to support people with learning disabilities, and how to assess their care needs in order to provide the correct level of support. In addition, social care workers can ensure that adults with learning disabilities have the opportunity to continue to network with their peers if they wish and sustain companionship and social connections.
3 Trees is a dedicated provider of care for adults with learning disabilities in the UK, training and supporting a wide network of talented and passionate health and social care workers. We are focussed on not only training our care workers to world-class standards, but also providing them with the ongoing resources and support they need to turn a passion for helping people into a rewarding and fulfilling career. To find out how we can help you become an exceptional care worker to help adults live full and abundant lives, contact us today. With 3 Trees, we’re helping you to help others.
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