Learning Disability & health

A learning disability is a significant, lifelong, condition that starts before adulthood. It affects a person’s development and means they may need help to -

• understand information
• learn skills
• cope independently.

Learning difficulties, such as dyslexia, ADHD, dyspraxia and speech & language issues are not defined as a learning disability.

Within Greater Glasgow & Clyde there are over 6000 adults who have some form of learning disability.

They experience some of the poorest health outcomes of any group in Scotland and much of their health needs are unrecognised and unmet.

People with learning disabilities also have a different pattern of health needs. They also die younger and have differing causes of death from the general population, often from preventable causes.

People with a learning disability are -

• living with, on average, 5 long term health conditions compared with 1 or 2 in the general population
• more likely to have mental health problems – 40-50% compared to 1-10% of general population
• more likely to have a sensory impairment - approximately 60% will have a visual impairment and 40% will have a hearing impairment
• more likely to be underweight or obese than the general population.

People with learning disabilities experience a number of barriers when trying to access appropriate healthcare within the NHS.

Patients often lack confidence and do not understand the information they need to make informed decisions about their health needs or about their treatment.

There is often insufficient joint working from different care providers, aftercare/follow-up care and carer involvement.