tracscare - Diagnostic Categories

Learning Disability/Learning Difficulty

The terms 'learning disability' and 'learning difficulty' are widely used to describe a range of problems and disorders where there is impairment to one or more of the basic psychological processes, involving understanding and communication, which can often lead to emotional disturbances. Learning disability can range from mild to profound, creating very different care needs for the individual. In more profound cases, ongoing support may be required throughout the individual's life.

Learning Disabilities can be caused by events that take place before or during birth and sometimes as a result of early events in childhood, such as illness.

There are a number of illnesses, neurological conditions and disorders, which may be genetic, where the symptoms may create a learning difficulty. Some of these are described below.

Autistic Spectrum Disorders

Autism is a genetic disorder where there are three defining characteristics, (the Triad of Impairment)

• Severe communication impairment.
• Lack of imagination – autistic people tend to follow fixed ritualistic routines being resistant to change.
• Limited ability to form social relationships.

Aspergers Syndrome is an Autistic Spectrum Disorder with similar characteristics, which will include lack of physical co-ordination. It is generally considered to be at the higher end of the spectrum, particularly in terms of verbal communication and social functioning.

Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral Palsy is a broad term used to describe a non genetic brain disorder that effects muscle movement. It can affect people in different ways, causing minor learning difficulties through to profound impairment of communication skills, mobility and social functioning.

Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a condition where the brain, periodically over time, has a temporary malfunction and goes into spasm or seizure. Epilepsy can be controlled by drugs but in some cases, severe Epilepsy is often associated with a learning difficulty.

Acquired Brain Injury

Sometimes individuals may suffer a traumatic event such as a road traffic accident: or have an illness in childhood or later life, which might cause damage to the brain, affecting communication skills, cognition often with severe memory impairment, social functioning and in some cases, mobility. People with a brain injury may be able to lead very independent lives but in profound cases, there is a high dependency on social support.

Chromosome Disorders

Many chromosome disorders will also lead to learning difficulties and the individual will sometimes have complex care needs. Chromosome disorders include Angelmans Syndrome; Downs Syndrome; Fragile X syndrome; Klinefelters Syndrome; Prader Willi Syndrome and more.

Mental Illness

Mental Illness is a broad term given to people who suffer from psychological problems that include neurotic disorders such as depression, anxiety, phobias, addiction and psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia. One in four people, within the UK population, experience emotional distress in any one year, with one in ten of those who present to their GP being diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder.

Most people who experience mental illness have short term, acute episodes and are able to return to living a 'normal life'. However, some people suffer from long term enduring or chronic mental illness which can affect their ongoing functioning, behaviour, social and life skills and general independence.

Dual Diagnosis

This is a term used to describe a combination of diagnostic categories, but usually relating to either more than one psychiatric condition or where the individual has something in addition to mental illness, such as a learning disability or brain injury.

Which tracscare Home provides care for which client group?

Hover your mouse over any of the indicators (filled circles) in the table to find out which client group is cared for.