In general, a learning disability constitutes a condition which affects learning and intelligence across all areas of life, whereas a learning difficulty constitutes a condition which creates an obstacle to a specific form of learning, but does not affect the overall IQ of an individual.

What is the difference between a difficulty and a disability?

The difference between difficulty and disability is hard to determine. In a broad sense, a difficulty causes a task to take longer or require more effort to complete, but it remains possible to perform the task. A disability prevents the performance of the task.

What is a learning difficulty?

A Learning Difficulty is a type of Special Education Needs, which affects areas of learning, such as reading, writing, spelling, mathematics etc. There are several levels of Learning Difficulties, such as: Severe Learning Difficulty - significant intellectual or cognitive impairments.

Is autism a learning disability or difficulty?

Like a learning disability, autism is a lifelong condition. Autism is sometimes referred to as a spectrum, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Autism is not a learning disability, but around half of autistic people may also have a learning disability.