Imagine having something really important to say but you just cant get your point across or make people understand what you are trying to say. You may feel bombarded by the sights and sounds around you, leaving you unable to focus your attention.

You may not need to imagine this, you may well understand it. Perhaps you are the parent or relative of an adult or child experiencing learning dificulties, or have a loved one in your family diagnosed as learning disabled.

Although differing from person to person, learning difficulties are common daily experiences of many children and adults. Those with such disability may experience a feeling of failure and low self-esteem.

So thats enough doom and gloom. It is important to understand that those with learning disabilities can, do and wiull learn and learn well.

This type of disability usually only affects certain limited areas of development, rarely are learning disabilities severe enough to prevent a person living a happy and normal life. This can effect a persons life a lot or very little. One thing is sure and that is our understanding, reaction and response to the person with learning difficulties, drastically effects that person.

Being patient, trying to understand and treating the person with respect greatly reduces their frustration and anxiety, helps them relax, feel less tense but most of all gives them time to think without pressure or fear of failure.

The article here is not designed to tell you all about learning difficulties, it is merely an aid to help you understand and relate with confidence and in doing so ease the pressure for the learning disabled to better cope with their disability.

For more details on learning difficulties and how to assist, see Mencap at