What is the difference between a Learning Disability and Mental illness?!

a learning disability is something you have always had (brain damage/dyslexic)
a mental illness is something you acquire (schizophrenia/agoraphobia)

james, i have never heard of a mental illness being inherent. That's really silly. No one is born who will DEFINITELY have bi-polar/agoraphobia. A person can be pre-disposed, but never guaranteed to have a condition. Therefore the mental condition is always acquired.Health Question & Answer

---

---

Learning Disability (LD) is a sub specialty in Psychiatry. There is a clear criteria for one to qualify as having LD. These are:
1}Having an IQ of less than 70 (this may be caused by genetic or environmental insults)
2]Having marked psycho social impairment
3] All of the above occurring before the age of 18years.
The noticeable difficulties ave to be global, so just having pockets of difficulties like being dyslexic does not qualify such individual as having LD.
Mental illness are diagnostic entities which affect the mind and how it works. Literally, having a mental illness interferes with one's ability to utilize their mind efficiently.
People who have LD have a higher chance (3-4times) of developing mental illness possibly because of their existing brain insults. Health Question & Answer

---

---

Dyslexia is NOT a mental illness but it IS a Learning Disability
HDAD is BOTH a Mental illness AND a learning Disability.

The Difference is all mental illnesses are LEARNING DISABILITIES but all Learning disabilities are NOT mental illnesses because, although they may interfere with the way they LEARN, by making READING more difficult, but they do NOT necessarily interfere with their behavior or emotional well being.

IMgr..>> That is inaccurate there ARE hereditary mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder and depression and anxiety disorders. In fact there are really NO Mental illnesses that one "acquires" ESPECIALLY "Schizophrenia" although there is psychological damage that happens all the time according to what one has endured in their lives. I THINK what you mean are "emotional disorders" acquired through life experience and trauma. Like PTSD. etc.
To the Morons who thumb my answer down>READ a BOOK

Oh No You are incorrect Schizophrenia DOES affect cognitive ability...

IAM.>>>>>>.sorry but that does NOT fit the Definition of an acquired trait. You are incorrect. A genetic predisposition means that it was INHERITED.....if it manifests itself is something else entirely. Again you are misinterpreting your terms.Health Question & Answer

---

---

A learning disability does relate to cognition but not always cognitive ability. A learning disability is normal for the individual. For instance, someone with Down's Syndrome has cognitive and behavioural characteristics normal for someone with Down's Syndrome. However, remember that some disabilities are very specific and don't equate to individuals with low intelligence.

A mental illness is defined thus: Any of various conditions characterized by impairment of an individual's normal cognitive, emotional, or behavioural functioning, and caused by social, psychological, biochemical, genetic, or other factors, such as infection or head trauma. also called emotional illness, mental disease; also called mental disorder. (Source

---

---