Learning Disability is a state of arrested or incomplete development of mind which includes significant impairment of intellectual and social functioning. Arrested or incomplete development of mind might be considered to mean whatever caused the disability occurred in childhood or before.

In the Western industrialised world, intelligence is regarded as being impaired when the IQ, is measured as being two standard deviations or more below the mean. Currently, this is generally accepted to be an IQ of 70 (plus or minus 5 for measurement error) or less as measured by the WAIS (Weschler Adult Intelligence Scale). This is a statistical construct and can vary with changes in the political/social climate.

The most recent World Health Organisation publication on the “Classification of Mental and Behaviour Disorders” (ICD 10) uses the term ‘Mental Retardation’ rather then ‘Mental Handicap’ or ‘Learning Disability.’ Degrees of mental retardation are conventionally estimated by standardised intelligence tests which can be supplemented by scales assessing social adaptation in a given environment. These measures provide an approximate indication to the degree of mental retardation. The diagnosis will depend on the overall assessment of intellectual functioning by a skilled diagnostician. IQ of a person suffering from learning disability is divided into mild mental retardation, moderate mental retardation, severe mental retardation and profound mental retardation.

Mild Mental Retardation has an approximate IQ range 50 – 69; means adults having a mental age varying from 9 to under 12 years. This is likely to result in some learning difficulties in school. Many adults will be able to work and maintain good social relationships and contribute to society.

Moderate Mental Retardation has an approximate IQ range 35 – 49; means adults having a mental age varying from 6 to under 9 years. This is likely to result in marked developmental delays in childhood but most of them can learn to develop some degree of independence in self care, and acquire adequate communication and academic skills. Adults will need varying degrees of support to live and work in the community.

Severe Mental Retardation has an approximate IQ range 20 – 34; means adults having a mental age varying from 3 to under 6 years. This is likely to result in continuous need of support.

Profound Mental Retardation has an approximate IQ under 20; means adults having a mental age of below 3 years. This results in severe limitations in self care, continence, communication and mobility.

Intellectual abilities and social adaptation may change over time and however poor may improve as a result of training and rehabilitation. Diagnosis should be based on current level of functioning. But it is important to diagnose learning disability to decide the appropriate line of care. An early diagnosis will help in treating the manageable physical and psychiatric conditions. In some conditions genetic counselling is also required. Besides psychiatrists, even paediatrician, general practitioners and other hospital specialists may also help in diagnosing learning disability.

The principle that rules the underlying education, social care and health services for learning disability sufferers lays emphasis on inclusion and community integration of people with learning disability. The firm support from family, friends, teachers, doctors and other allied professionals - all will contribute to the care and sustenance of a person suffering from learning disability.