Learning disabilities
What is a learning disability?
A learning disability is a reduced intellectual ability, usually identified soon after birth or in early years and will last the persons whole life.
- You may have difficulties understanding information
- You may have difficulties communicating to others.
- You may need quite a lot of help with many everyday tasks.
- These difficulties will have started before the age of 18.
- People with learning disabilities take longer to learn and need support to develop new skills, understand information or interact with people.
- People with a learning disability have worse physical and mental health than people without a learning disability.
- People with a learning disability die an average of 19 and a half years younger than the general population.
How do you find out if you have a learning disability
Our team can complete some assessments with you to explore this in detail by looking at your skills and your developmental history.
A learning disability is not:
- a mental illness
- dyslexia or dyspraxia
- attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- autism
- a physical illness
Our services
The learning disability services are based in Doncaster, Rotherham and North Lincolnshire. The service is made up of lots of different professionals such as:
- community nurses
- psychiatrists
- psychologists
- allied health professionals (speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists.
- positive behaviour support (PBS) practitioners
- art therapists
- support workers
Our team
Community nurses
Our community nurses can help by:
- attending appointments with you
- support in hospitals
- supporting your health
- developing positive behaviour support plans
- promoting your physical and mental health
- helping you complete health assessments
- overcome health inequalities
- transition link nurses, supporting people moving into the service from children’s services
- health promotion and education
Psychiatry
Psychiatry will help you with the diagnosis, treatment and recovery from illnesses related to mental health.
Clinical psychology
Clinical psychologists can help by providing psychological assessments and psychological therapy to help with distressing events and emotions.
Speech and language therapy
Speech and language therapists provide support for people who struggle to communicate or who have difficulties with eating, drinking and swallowing.
Helpful numbers and websites
Page last reviewed: October 28, 2025
Next review due: October 28, 2026
Problem with this page?
Please tell us about any problems you have found with this web page.
Report a problem