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I would like to point out that in the BMJ print and online versions of my rapid response published as a letter, an error was introduced during editing. The abbreviation ID, which refers to Intellectual Disability, has been replaced with "intellectual or learning difficulties".
The importance of this seemingly minor difference stems from both the historical perspective and the extensive literature. These are clear that the term "learning difficulty" covers, amongst other things, dyscalculia and dyslexia rather than an intellectual disability. Clearly many people with dyslexia will have high IQs, for instance. The International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) [1] separates ID (F70-79) from Specific developmental disorders of scholastic skills (F81) which covers learning difficulties. The term "learning difficulty" is still used in educational settings for those with "specific learning difficulties", such as dyslexia, but who do not have a significant general impairment of intelligence [2].
I do have a concern about the term "intellectual or learning difficulties" and would be grateful if this could be corrected to "intellectual disabilities". This is also in the context of, for example, people being incorrectly referred to a learning/intellectual disability service when they have a learning "difficulty" rather than a disability. This can be stigmatizing for the person as well as delaying them to the correct pathway.
With the wide range of professions who read the BMJ, I'd be grateful if this could be corrected to avoid any confusion.
1. World Health Organization. The ICD-10 Classification of Mental and Behavioural Disorders: Clinical Descriptions and Diagnostic Guidelines. Geneva: WHO, 1992.
2. BILD ‘Learning Disability’ fact sheet. http://www.bild.org.uk/ EasySiteWeb/GatewayLink.aspx?a lId=8188 Accessed 20.01.2018
Competing interests:
No competing interests
21 January 2018
Giri Madhavan
Specialist Registrar (psychiatry of intellectual disability)
Clarification of term "learning difficulty"- Re: Psychotic symptoms in people with intellectual disability
I would like to point out that in the BMJ print and online versions of my rapid response published as a letter, an error was introduced during editing. The abbreviation ID, which refers to Intellectual Disability, has been replaced with "intellectual or learning difficulties".
The importance of this seemingly minor difference stems from both the historical perspective and the extensive literature. These are clear that the term "learning difficulty" covers, amongst other things, dyscalculia and dyslexia rather than an intellectual disability. Clearly many people with dyslexia will have high IQs, for instance. The International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) [1] separates ID (F70-79) from Specific developmental disorders of scholastic skills (F81) which covers learning difficulties. The term "learning difficulty" is still used in educational settings for those with "specific learning difficulties", such as dyslexia, but who do not have a significant general impairment of intelligence [2].
I do have a concern about the term "intellectual or learning difficulties" and would be grateful if this could be corrected to "intellectual disabilities". This is also in the context of, for example, people being incorrectly referred to a learning/intellectual disability service when they have a learning "difficulty" rather than a disability. This can be stigmatizing for the person as well as delaying them to the correct pathway.
With the wide range of professions who read the BMJ, I'd be grateful if this could be corrected to avoid any confusion.
1. World Health Organization. The ICD-10 Classification of Mental and Behavioural Disorders: Clinical Descriptions and Diagnostic Guidelines. Geneva: WHO, 1992.
2. BILD ‘Learning Disability’ fact sheet. http://www.bild.org.uk/ EasySiteWeb/GatewayLink.aspx?a lId=8188 Accessed 20.01.2018
Competing interests: No competing interests