Learning Disability and Neurodiversity

Opebiyi, Moyosore

Abstract

It is estimated that 28.9 million (4.3%) of children aged 0–4 years, 207.4 million
(12.5%) of children aged 5–17 years and 236.4 million (10.1%) of all children aged
0–17 years have moderate-to-severe disabilities globally (Olusanya et al. 2022).
The life experiences of children living with disabilities are poor when compared to
children without a disability. Children living with a disability are more likely to
have poorer educational experience and attainment, have poorer physical health and
mental health and are more likely to experience discrimination (UNICEF 2022).
Furthermore, once they reach adulthood, they are more likely to be unemployed
(United Nations undated) or in low-paid employment increasing their chances of
living their lives in poverty (Chap. 7 discusses the links between poverty and mental
health). However, ‘disability’ is somewhat a nebulous term as it collectively refers
to individuals with different experiences, such as being born with a cognitive impairment or becoming disabled because of chronic illness or accident (Heaslip 2020).
As such, it is difficult to identify prevalence of intellectual disability. Whilst there
are a range of terms used globally, the most common is an intellectual disability or
learning disability.
In terms of diagnosis of an intellectual disability, both the UK and international
definitions (British Psychological Society 2015) identify three key criteria that must
be met, including:
• Significant impairment of intellectual functioning
• Significant impairment of adaptive behaviour (social functioning)
• Both impairments arising before adulthood
Within this, it must be recognised that there is a continuum of needs, classified
as mild, moderate, severe or profound, denoting the level of support the individual
may need. Reasons for the development of an intellectual disability are varied and
can include an inherited condition, abnormal chromosomes, exposure to environmental toxins or infections and illness during pregnancy, very premature birth or
complication during birth or illness (Public Health England 2023).
Neurodiversity is the term used to describe a range of conditions including
autism/autism spectrum condition (ASC)/autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)/variable attention stimulus trait (VAST),
dyspraxia, dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia and Tourette’s syndrome (TS). It is
estimated that one in seven people is neurodivergent (NHS England undated). Like
intellectual disability, there can be a continuum of needs ranging from those who
require minimal assistance to those who require significant support in day-to-day
activities. It is important to remember that neurodiversity itself is not a mental illness; however, children and young people who are neurodivergent like children and
young people with a disability can experience a mental health issue during their
childhood and adult lives.

• Online Publication Date: Jun 10, 2025
• Publication Date: Jun 10, 2025
• Deposit Date: Jun 12, 2025
• Book Title: Needs of Children and Young People Living with Complex Mental Health Difficulties Why it’s Everyone’s Business
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-84532-1_5