A learning disability is a condition that affects how someone sees and knows the world.[1] A person with a learning disability, for example, may find it challenging or require some extra time to understand, process, and retain information in the same way as a neurotypical person. This is because some people who have a learning disability may live with more than one kind of condition that affects how they process information independently. A learning disability can also affect a person’s ability to make and maintain relationships with their peers and others in their community.

It is essential to distinguish between “learning disabilities” and “learning difficulties”. These are two terms that are often confused by people who do not have lived, loved, or professional experience and knowledge of supporting someone who has a learning disability. As MENCAP writes: “A learning disability is different from a learning difficulty as a learning difficulty does not affect general intellect”.[1] This means that a learning difficulty affects a person’s ability and capacity to process certain kinds of information, such as words or numbers. On the other hand, a learning disability affects a person’s overall ability and capacity to complete their activities of daily living independently and in a way that is meaningful to them.

There are many kinds of learning disabilities that people live with every day. Each person’s experience of living with a learning disability is different.

Learning disabilities

Learning disabilities are often categorised into three categories by medical and other caring professionals in health and social care: mild, moderate, severe, and profound. These categories help caring professionals to understand what type and what level of support a person with a disability may need to live their lives independently and in a way that reflects their needs and wants.

• A person with a “mild” learning disability may often mix well with others in social situations and should be able to cope with most of their activities of daily living. However, they may need support to attend doctors’ appointments, to fill out forms, or to stay on top of the money that they spend.
• A person with a “moderate” learning disability may find it more challenging to navigate social situations and carry out their activities of daily living independently. For example, a person with a moderate learning disability may require additional support to navigate the community in a way that is meaningful to them, i.e. to shop for food.
• A person with a “severe” learning disability may find it more challenging to understand, process, and retain the information that is presented to them, and this can make it difficult to learn new skills. For example, a person with a severe learning disability may have limited speech, difficulty in social situations, and require support with daily activities such as personal care, eating, and keeping safe. Many people with a severe learning disability require lifelong support.
• A person with a “profound” learning disability may require more individualised, personalised and tailored support with many areas of daily life, such as personal care, communication, maintaining their physical and mental health and wellbeing, and maintaining access to their community in a way that is important to them. For example, a person with a profound learning disability may need support so that they understand what is being communicated to them in a way that is meaningful to them. This is because some people with profound learning disabilities may find it challenging to process the complex information that the doctor or another caring professional communicates to them about their health. Many people with a profound learning disability require lifelong support.

Profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD)

A person with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD) has a profound learning disability, as well as other conditions that significantly impact their ability and capacity to navigate their lived and social environments independently.

• A person with PMLD will normally have a profound learning disability, as well as complex physical, sensory, or mental health needs.
• People with PMLD are unique individuals with their own personalities, lived experiences, and contributions that they make to their social groups and wider communities in ways that are meaningful to them.
• A person with PMLD often requires a high level of support in various areas, such as personal care, communication, and socialisation.

Learning difficulties

There are many different kinds of learning difficulties. A person can have a single learning difficulty, such as dyslexia, or they can have a combination.

• Learning difficulties exist on a scale that is measured in a similar way as learning disabilities: mild, moderate, and severe.
• A person with a learning difficulty may experience significant academic challenges, and this can have social and emotional implications, negatively impacting a person’s self-esteem, social interactions, and mental health.
• A person’s learning difficulty can also impact their daily living. For example, a person with dyscalculia may find it more challenging to manage their finances compared to a neurotypical person.

Specific learning difficulties (SpLD)

• Dyslexia: A person with dyslexia may find it challenging to understand, process, and retain forms of written communication. It impacts how people read, write, and spell.
• Dysgraphia: A person with dysgraphia may find it challenging to write, spell, and organise their thoughts on paper. It impacts how people perform the physical act of writing, such as forming letters or appropriately spacing words. People with dysgraphia may struggle to communicate their ideas in a written format, clearly and coherently.
• Dyscalculia: A person with dyscalculia may find it challenging to understand, process and retain information that is presented in numbers. As the British Dyslexia Association writes, “Dyscalculia differs from other maths learning difficulties to the severity of understanding and working with numbers and quantities. It is a persistent difficulty that will present differently through an individual’s life, depending on age, experience, and opportunities”.[1]

The terms “learning disability” and “learning disability” are distinct. A learning disability is a lifelong condition that affects people’s level of ability and capacity, and presents some challenges in diverse areas of life, such as finances, health, and keeping safe. A learning difficulty is a condition that presents significant challenges in certain areas of learning, such as processing information that is presented in words or numbers. A person can have both a learning disability and a learning difficulty. However, learning disabilities and learning difficulties, though related, are not the same.

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[1] There is no one single “learning disability”: the terms “learning disability” and “learning disabilities” are often used interchangeably.

[2] MENCAP, Learning difficulties: Easy Read, MENCAP (2025) https://www.mencap.org.uk/learning-disability-explained/learning-disability-and-conditions/learning-difficulties?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=290265644&gbraid=0AAAAAD5gWfR1quzXXv8ERzIHW4d5f-k-6&gclid=CjwKCAjw7_DEBhAeEiwAWKiCCyq4Ty1wIm8SpGDQ_3PEzItbv6AbD-vziDAqL-eC6eTazbKXQkadPBoCWqwQAvD_BwE (Accessed 13/08/25)

[3] British Dyslexia Association, About dyscalculia, BDA Dyslexia (2025), https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/dyscalculia/how-can-i-identify-dyscalculia (Accessed: 13.08.2025)

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