Learning Disability News and Research

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Brain differences reveal hidden causes of math learning disability

On a simple math task - indicating which of two amounts is greater - kids with math learning disability get the right answer as often as their good-at-math peers, but behind the scenes, their brains are working differently, a new Stanford Medicine study has found.

9 Feb 2026

People with epilepsy and learning disabilities face preventable early deaths

A combination of missed prevention opportunities and health inequalities can result in the early deaths of people living with epilepsy and intellectual disabilities, a study has shown.

10 Dec 2025

Researchers identify four distinct profiles of Nonverbal Learning Disability

A study published in JAMA Network Open identifies four distinct profiles of Nonverbal Learning Disability (NVLD), providing evidence that may help refine diagnostic criteria and guide more individualized approaches to care for children and families.

8 Oct 2025

Study links chronic illness in children to greater household food insecurity

Food insecurity is more common among children with a chronic medical condition than those without one, a new study suggests.

26 Sep 2025

Barriers in NHS services leave autistic people without suicide support

Life-saving opportunities to prevent suicide among autistic people are being missed because systemic barriers make it difficult for them to access NHS support during times of mental health crisis, according to new research.

15 Sep 2025

Faster progression to severe diabetes observed in people with learning disabilities

People with learning disabilities progress faster to severe type 2 diabetes and are at greater risk of dying from their condition than people without these disabilities, suggests research published in the open access journal BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Control.

2 Sep 2025

New AI tool could improve care planning for patients with learning disabilities

A new artificial intelligence (AI) model has been developed to predict how long a person with a learning disability is likely to stay in hospital, offering valuable insights that could improve care and resource planning.

25 Feb 2025

Study uncovers genetic changes linked to leukemia risk in people with Down's syndrome

People with Down's syndrome face a higher risk of developing Leukemia. Now researchers from the University of Copenhagen and Stanford University explain why, by identifying specific changes in blood cells of people with Down's syndrome.

25 Sep 2024

New QR4 algorithm outperforms previous models in predicting cardiovascular disease risk

A new cardiovascular risk prediction algorithm.

23 Apr 2024

Involving youths with disabilities in accessible app design

The atmosphere on the bus is cheerful. A group of young people with disabilities are testing an app they have helped develop. This app is designed to make it easier for them to take the bus to and from work.

13 Feb 2024

‘I am just waiting to die’: Social Security clawbacks drive some into homelessness

More than a year after the federal government first cut off her disability benefits, Denise Woods drives nightly to strip malls, truck stops, and parking lots around Savannah, Georgia, looking for a safe place to sleep in her Chevy.

20 Dec 2023

Associations between socioeconomic status, clinical variables, and non-COVID-19 sepsis risk

The impact of socioeconomic status and clinical variables on sepsis incidence and mortality.

28 Nov 2023

Study estimates the life expectancy and years of life lost by autistic people in the UK

A new study led by UCL researchers confirms that autistic people experience a reduced life expectancy, however the number of years of life lost may not be as high as previously claimed.

23 Nov 2023

Can social robots and brain-computer interface video games help manage ADHD?

Scientists have discussed the utility of social robots and brain-computer interface video games in treating young people with ADHD.

10 Aug 2023

Music therapy proves effective in treating depression for ADHD in children and adolescents

How music therapy can improve the treatment of depression in children with Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

30 Mar 2023

New app uses AI to interpret the emotions expressed by non-verbal individuals

seamlessCARE, a University College Dublin digital health spin-out company, today announced the launch of Empathic.

24 Feb 2023

People with developmental disability at high risk of avoidable in-hospital safety incidents

People with developmental disability are nearly three times as likely than other patients to experience preventable physical injuries while in hospital, reveals new research by the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and the Universitat de Barcelona.

3 Oct 2022

Inequalities are the most significant threat to public health, top doctor warns

Inequalities are the most significant threat to public health in the UK, a top doctor has warned ahead of a major conference at the Royal Society of Medicine.

5 Sep 2022

New study aims to help people with learning disabilities to fight loneliness

People with learning disabilities are set to benefit from a new study, funded by the NIHR, by the University of Surrey that will examine ways to help them overcome loneliness - which often leads to other underlying medical issues such as heart diseases, obesity, anxiety, and depression.

30 Aug 2022

The QCOVID4 algorithm developed using data from the Omicron wave identifies those at highest risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes

A recent article illustrated the derivation and validation of the QCOVID4 risk determination algorithm for predicting COVID-19 hospitalization and death risk in England.

18 Aug 2022