Discovering and understanding under-served communities

People with learning (intellectual) disability

Around 1.5 million people (2% of the population in the UK) have a learning disability. A learning disability happens when a person's brain development is affected, either before they are born, during their birth or in early childhood. Conditions that are associated with having a learning disability include Cerebral palsy, Down's syndrome, Autism and Epilepsy.

A learning disability includes the presence of:
  • reduced ability to understand new or complex information or learn a new skill
  • a reduced ability to cope independently

Reports suggest that people with learning disabilities, their families and carers can face ‘institutional discrimination’ in NHS health care services. This is due to a failure to understand medical needs. They also receive poorer care (e.g. fewer screening tests and health investigations).

  1. DH (2001) Valuing People: a new strategy for learning disability for the 21st century, Department of Health
  2. Emerson E and Baines S (2010) Health inequalities and people with learning disabilities in the UK, DH
  3. Jubraj B et al (2016) Pharmacy consultations with patients with learning disabilities The Pharmaceutical Journal; 296 (7885) online | DOI: 10.1211/PJ.2016.20200330
  4. Heslop P et al (2014) The Confidential Inquiry into premature deaths of people with intellectual disabilities in the UK: a population-based study, The Lancet 383 (9920): 889-95
  5. Mencap (2007) Death by Indifference. London, Mencap
  6. WHO (2012) Mental Health Definition: intellectual disability
Select which of the following statements are true or false?
As well as having a poorer quality of life, people with learning disabilities have a shorter life expectancy when compared to the general population; this is largely avoidable.
Correct - It is true - As well as having a poorer quality of life, people with learning disabilities have a shorter life expectancy when compared to the general population; this is largely avoidable.
Incorrect - It is true - As well as having a poorer quality of life, people with learning disabilities have a shorter life expectancy when compared to the general population; this is largely avoidable.
Men with learning disability die on average 6 years younger than men in the general population and women 10 years younger.
Incorrect - Men with a learning disability die on average 13 years younger than men in the general population and women 20 years younger!
Correct - It is false - Men with a learning disability die on average 13 years younger than men in the general population and women 20 years younger!
Simple steps to identify and better serve individuals with a learning disability

Please bullet point, in no more than 200 characters, reflect on ways you can better engage and interact with people with learning (intellectual) disability.

This Delete button will remove your saved data for this question.