long-term difficulty
noun phraseUK /ˌlɒŋ tɜːm ˈdɪfɪkəlti/
US /ˌlɔːŋ tɝːm ˈdɪfɪkəlti/
A problem that stays with you for a very long time.
Learning to walk again after the accident was a long-term difficulty for him.
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A continuing medical condition that is hard to treat.
Her long-term difficulty with breathing needs daily medicine.
3. A lasting trouble in school or learning that does not go away quickly.
Reading was a long-term difficulty for him until he got extra help.
4. A problem in a country or group that lasts for many years.
The town's long-term difficulty with water shortages finally got a solution.