Disability vs difficulties?

[Whyohwhy99]

Can anyone explain the difference between learning difficulties and learning disabilities please?

It’s about the people making the diagnosis not having the skill set to diagnose people with learning disabilities, not that the diagnosis wouldn’t accepted by the nhs. The right to choose pathway is not set up for people with learning disabilities. Think of it like driving tests - if you can only drive automatic cars and you go to a centre where they only do a manual car test, they will probably fail you even though you can actually drive, the test just isn’t right for what you need. That’s what right to choose would be like. You might have autism or ADHD, or both, but the right to choose provider might not be able to spot them correctly mixed in with learning disabilities because that’s not what they usually do.

Sorry, but that is not correct - it actually stands for “profound and multiple learning disabilities”. www.mencap.org.uk/learning-disability-explained/learning-disability-and-conditions/profound-and-multiple-learning-disabilities-pmld

And I am well of what it means, thanks - my child has PMLD, and I am AuDHD myself.

Yeah i understand i will just have to see. And keeo fingers crossed that its not the case for my situation.

The terminology can differ between the health and education sectors @HesterLeggatt.

This is a good way of explaining it and what I was trying to say in my post a few days ago.

@Whyohwhy99im confused now though as you’re taking about your DS. Is this test for you or for him?

For me. He came up because others were talking about their children. And I rembered some of the things about ds when he was being diagnosed . Ehcp and that sort of thing.

One thing I am woundering though is weather I come across as having learning difficulties? I don't know if i do or not.

Ah ok, that makes sense.
From what you’ve explained about your life and some of the challenges you have, it would make sense that you have a learning disability. Along with the fact that you went to a special school, who would only have accepted you if you met their criteria.
If “moderate learning disabilities (or difficulties) is on your medical records, then the Right To Choose services will see it and know straight away that they are not able to assess you properly. Which is why your GP needs to help you find a service that can.

Ah ok I was just wondering in general. Theres nothing in my medical records.

What kind of special school did you go to. Did it have a certain criteria to get in. There are special school for children with mild, moderate and severe learning disabilities but there are also special schools for children with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia or dyspraxia. Maybe if you checked the website of the school you went to it might explain the types of disabilities that go to the school

I was only told I was going to school for children with moderate learning difficulties. Thats all I know. The school has changed now compared to years ago.

If there’s nothing in your medical records, how did the Right To Choose services know that you have moderate learning difficulties?
(this isn’t meant to sound mean or challenging, by the way, I’m just trying to understand 😊)

It would not necessarily be recorded as a medical issue in dr records, as it is more educational if the learning disability affected your function and ability to learn and retain information, particularly as this was a while ago. There may be something in the notes from gp appointments within your and your dc medical records about how information was communicated, their diagnosis and treatment and whether you appeared to understand it but not explicitly.

Because when I was telling gp the things I struggle with and the odd things I used to do as a child I said it during explaining. I don't know if that's passed on to right to choose or not

It will probably appear along the lines of “patient stated they believe they have moderate learning difficulties” in records.

Possibly. Or may not mention it at al.

The impact on the person. To be a disability it needs to have a substantial and long term impact on the person's abilities to do every day activities. A difficulty is less impactful and typically just refers to doing the thing but perhaps a little more slowly or with more effort than average.

I found the consolation notes. It says has history of earning difficulties went to special school. Then on the referral it asks does the patient consider themselves to have a disability. And gp ticked no.

So I guess that answers my question.

But is does say they can't take a referral being assessed for autism i have been referred for both. So i don't get that.

Also unless I'm not understanding it looks like i didn't score high enough for autism. But then says. AQ 10 questionnaire completed does not not suggest autism based on that alone. But discussed this does not exclude a diagnosis.

Also why would they need to know if I'm a carer or not?

Yes, also learning disability tends to be from birth.

If you are a carer you are responsible for the wellbeing of another person, it can mean you access specific services quicker and healthcare like vaccinations.

But what does it have to do with an adhd test. Gp ticked no anyway but I'm down as a carer for ds. Don't think it makes a difference though 🤷‍♀️

It may not, or it may get you a quicker appointment or more flexibility on times

Oh well gp ticked no anyway