Can having an intellectual disability affect your academic performance in college?

[Anonymous]

I am currently a college student at my local community college and notice that I fail every math and science test even with help. The science I am taking is anatomy and physiology whichI am failing. I also take too long on tests. I have mild intellectual disability. In some subjects like psychology and health I can pass. Why is this related to my disability on why I keep failing math and science? I struggle with those unlike typical students in my class. Can an intellectual disability can be a learning disability because I can fail tests easily and take too long on tests? What causes this?

[Effably]

Can it being more difficult to learn and understand things impact your ability to learn and understand things? Absolutely.

That said, even though it does add an extra level of challenge wallowing in that is noy individually helpful.

Try to get in on practical courses for how to learn and study. Studying is a skill. Very few people learn that skill. Any good institution will start your first year by teaching you how to study, or at least giving you material to teach yourself. Do it.

It comes down to learning mnemonics, understanding your own memory and so on. Without any exaggeration learning how to study will make it less mentally draining and also double your ability to learn. While a disability will remain a disability it can be overcome by stacking more abilities and knowledge against it.

So yes it can. It does not mean you give up. Learn to learn. Any librarian can help you if your academy does not. Librarians are human search engines with a master's degree in finding the right stuff. Use them. They are amazing and so underutilized they are often happy to help.

[MrChinaski]

Talk to your school. It's conceivable they may, e. g. give you extra time on tests. You may want to pay for individual tuition, etc. Maybe not.

But the disability you are describing is going to make scoring well harder regardless. Colleges test you on precisely what you have described as your disability.

[petitedollbabee]

Yes.. an intellectual disability is often referred to as a learning disability.

[Asker]

Really? I didn’t know that. Why does it cause me to fail tests in college a lot?

[Nikki1989]

Yes, intellectual disability directly impacts academic performance.

[AI Opinion]

Yes, your mild intellectual disability can absolutely affect your college performance, especially in math and science.

From students I’ve coached with similar profiles, common issues are:

- Slower processing speed → you need more time to understand questions and solve problems.
- Working‑memory limits → hard to hold steps in multi‑step math or science reasoning.
- Abstract thinking → math formulas and physiology pathways are more difficult to grasp and remember.

Psychology and health are often more concrete and language‑based, which can play more to your strengths.

Ask disability services about:
- Extended test time
- Quiet testing room
- Note‑taking/recording lectures
- Tutoring specifically trained for disabilities

You’re not “less capable”; you just need different supports and pacing.

[KostasKouvalis]

Of course, but I knew many like that who got their degree anyways

[Abbycado]

Of course.

[Asker]

Why?

[jahaims]

Duh.