13 July 2023 , 18:04
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Earlier this week, Rob McElhenney came forward to reveal he had been diagnosed with "a host of neurodevelopmental disorders and learning disabilities".
In a candid statement, the 46-year-old actor explained: "It's not something I would normally talk about publicly, but I figured there are others who struggle with similar things, and I wanted to remind you that you're not alone. You're not stupid. You're not 'bad'. It might feel that way sometimes. But it's not true :)."
The It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia star's health admission was met with a round of well-wishes, support and praise for raising awareness of the disorder.
But what exactly are the symptoms of neurodevelopmental disorders and learning disabilities, and what does it mean for those who suffer from them?
Rob McElhenney revealed his diagnosis with "a host of neurodevelopmental disorders and learning disabilities" (Getty Images)
Neurodevelopmental disorders "are typically diagnosed in early school-aged children, although may not be recognised until adulthood" (GC Images)According to The American Psychiatric Association, neurodevelopmental disorders "are typically diagnosed in early school-aged children, although may not be recognised until adulthood".
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"They are characterised by a persistent impairment in at least one of three major areas: reading, written expression, and/or math," it's added.
In research published by the Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience journal, neurodevelopmental disorders can arise during the developmental stages of childhood. As well as intellectual disabilities, it includes autism spectrum disorders and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders.
Meanwhile, the Mayo Clinic stated that a learning disorder is present when "the brain takes in and works with information in a way that is not typical".
It's added that "It keeps a person from learning a skill and using it well", so "there's a gap between their expected skills, based on age and intelligence, and how they do in school".
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke adds that learning disabilities can affect someone's ability to pay attention and understand language as well as mathematical equations.
It can be managed by help in terms of a specialised tutor, therapy and complementary and alternative treatments.
Learning disabilities can affect someone's ability to pay attention (Getty Images)When it comes to Rob, he explained he wanted to show other people they weren't alone when coming forward to discuss his diagnosis in a statement issued this week.
"You're not stupid. You're not 'bad'. It might feel that way sometimes. But it's not true," he added.
Rob will further discuss his experience on the podcast that accompanies his show It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, in which he plays the character Ronald' Mac' McDonald.
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