A learning disability is caused by the way that the brain develops. It is not an illness it is a permanent life long condition, people with a learning disability can still have a good life, they can learn and develop if they get the right support.

There are many different types of learning disabilities and is caused by the way the brain develops, it can happen before a baby is born, during birth or because of a serious child hood illness or physical accident. Learning disabilities are often categorised as mild, moderate or severe and each person will vary a great deal in the help that they may require on a daily basis. One person may require support with washing and daily chores, whilst another person may live independently. People with learning disabilities may also be described as having a profound or multiply learning disabilities. This means that they have more than one disability, they may have challenging behaviour, have a profound learning disability, additional sight or hearing problems, autism, mental illness or many other health problems.

Before birth: A learning disability can occur because of something that has happened to the central nervous system whilst the mother was pregnant. She may have had an accident or illness during pregnancy for example German Measles. Or the unborn baby may develop certain genes.

During Childbirth: A person may have a learning disability because they did not get enough oxygen during child birth or because he/she was born too early.

After birth: Sometimes a child hood illness can cause learning disabilities such as meningitis or a physical accident.

A baby can be born with a learning disability if they have inherited certain genes from their parent. This is called inherited learning disability. The two most common are Down’s syndrome and Fragile X syndrome. These are not learning disabilities but the person who has either one of these conditions are likely to have other learning disability.