What is a Cognitive Disability? A Simple Guide for Families and Carers

Estimated reading time: 8 minutes

I get it. You’re likely here because you’ve noticed some things about a loved one, or maybe you’ve just received a diagnosis and you heard the term “cognitive disability.” The words sound a bit clinical, a bit scary, and you’re just looking for a simple, clear explanation of what it all means. 

I’ve been in this space for a long time, and I know that when you’re faced with new terms and a lot of uncertainty, it can feel overwhelming. You just want to understand what’s happening and how you can best support your family member. This post is for you. I want to walk you through what a cognitive disability is in a way that’s easy to understand. We’ll look at what it means, what it looks like in daily life, and how it relates to getting support from the NDIS. My goal is to turn a confusing topic into a clear one, so you can feel more confident and less worried about the future. 

What is a Cognitive Disability? A Simple Definition 

Let’s start with the basics. In simple terms, a cognitive disability is a broad term that describes a condition that affects a person’s mental processes. This means it impacts how they: 

• Think: How they reason, plan, and decide. 

• Learn: How they gain and remember new information. 

• Remember: How they recall facts, events, and instructions. 

• Problem-Solve: How they work through challenges and find solutions. 

I was having a chat with one of our support workers the other day, and they put it in a way that I thought was brilliant. They said, “It’s like their brain’s wiring is a little different. It’s not worse, just different. So, they might need a different roadmap to get from Point A to Point B.” I really like that. It’s not about judging or comparing; it’s about understanding the unique way their mind works and providing the right support to help them thrive. 

The most important thing to know is that a cognitive disability is often a lifelong condition. It’s a fundamental part of how a person processes the world, but with the right support, they can absolutely learn, grow, and live a full and meaningful life. 

How a Cognitive Disability Can Show Up in Daily Life 

The way a cognitive disability shows up can be different for every person. It’s not a single set of symptoms, but more of a pattern of challenges that can impact many parts of their life. You might notice things like: 

• Difficulty with Memory: They might forget instructions you gave them just a few minutes ago or struggle to remember important dates. This isn’t because they aren’t paying attention; it’s because their brain processes and stores information differently. 

• Challenges with Problem-Solving: A simple problem, like figuring out what to do when they can’t find their keys, might feel like an impossible task. They might get stuck and not know the steps to take to solve the issue. 

• Struggles with Planning and Organisation: They might have a hard time planning their day or organising their personal space. Getting ready in the morning, for example, might feel like an enormous challenge because they struggle to put the tasks in the right order. 

• Difficulty with Attention: They might find it hard to focus on a single task for a long period, especially if there are a lot of distractions around. 

• Social Challenges: They might find it hard to pick up on social cues or understand what someone else is thinking or feeling. This can make social situations difficult and sometimes isolating. 

It’s important to remember that these aren’t signs of laziness or a lack of effort. These are genuine challenges that a person faces every single day. As a family member or carer, seeing these struggles can be heartbreaking, and you might feel you’re alone in this. But you’re not. Understanding these challenges is the first step toward finding the right supports to make life a little easier for everyone. 

Clearing Up the Confusion: Cognitive vs. Intellectual vs. Learning Disabilities 

This is a really common question, and I want to clear it up for you. These terms are often used interchangeably, but they have different meanings. Think of them as an enormous umbrella with smaller umbrellas underneath. 

Cognitive Disability (The Big Umbrella): This is the broad term for any condition that affects a person’s mental processes, including how they think, remember, and solve problems. It’s the overall category. 

Intellectual Disability (A Smaller Umbrella): This is a specific type of cognitive disability. The key thing here is that it affects a person’s intellectual functioning and adaptive behaviour. “Intellectual functioning” is about things like reasoning and learning, and “adaptive behaviour” is about the skills needed for daily life. A person with an intellectual disability will often have an IQ below a certain score. This condition is almost always present from childhood. 

Learning Disability (Another Small Umbrella): This is another specific type of cognitive disability. A learning disability affects how a person learns, but it does not affect their overall intelligence. For example, a person with dyslexia (a learning disability) might be brilliant at problem-solving and highly creative, but they have a hard time reading and spelling. The challenge is in the specific skill of learning, not in overall mental ability. 

To put it simply: 

• All intellectual disabilities are cognitive disabilities. 

• Most learning disabilities are cognitive disabilities. 

• But not all cognitive disabilities are intellectual or learning disabilities. 

Hopefully, this helps you see how these terms fit together. 

How a Cognitive Disability Relates to NDIS Support 

This is where the NDIS comes in. The National Disability Insurance Scheme is a system that can provide funding and support to people with a permanent disability. 

For your loved one to be eligible for NDIS funding, you need to show that their cognitive disability creates a “permanent impairment” that “substantially reduces” their ability to do everyday things. The key here is to show how the disability affects their daily life and why they need support to live a full life. 

Here’s how a cognitive disability might lead to NDIS support: 

• Decision-Making: The NDIS might provide funding for a Support Coordinator who can help your loved one make important decisions about their supports and goals. 

• Daily Living: If your loved one needs help with things like meal preparation, managing money, or remembering to take their medication, the NDIS can fund a support worker to assist with these tasks. 

• Community Participation: The NDIS can provide funding for a support worker to help your loved one get out into the community, attend appointments, or join a social group. This is all about helping them connect and feel a part of things. 

• Skill Development: Your loved one can also use funding for therapy or programs that teach your loved one new skills, like learning to cook or use public transport, to help them become more independent. 

The NDIS exists to provide “reasonable and necessary” supports that help a person achieve their goals and live a life of their choosing. The core of the NDIS is about building capacity and independence, and that’s a beautiful thing. 

Conclusion 

I know that learning a new term like “cognitive disability” can be scary. But I want you to know that it’s a first step toward understanding, and understanding is the key to finding the right support. 

A cognitive disability is a unique way of processing the world. By seeing it in this light, you can focus on what your loved one needs to thrive, rather than on the challenges. The NDIS is an incredible tool that can provide the funding for this support, and we are here to help you navigate that system. You’ve got this. We’re here to help. 

Action Steps for Families & Carers 

• Start with a Chat: If you have questions about a new diagnosis or how a cognitive disability relates to the NDIS, reach out for a confidential, no-pressure conversation. We’re happy to answer your questions and provide some clarity. 

• Look for a Diagnostic Report: If you haven’t yet, try to get a formal report from a medical professional that clearly explains the diagnosis. This is an important piece of the puzzle for the NDIS. 

• Think about Daily Life: Take a moment to think about what a typical day looks like for your loved one. Write down the specific things they struggle with, like remembering appointments or solving a simple problem. This will help you identify what supports they might need. 

FAQs

Roger Donnelley

Roger Donnelley founded the charity The SALT Foundation in 2009 following a trip to India. When the NDIS was introduced in 2017, The SALT Foundation became a provider to earn income to then put towards its charitable projects. In his time off, Roger loves playing tennis.