Learning disabilities (LDs) are real. They affect the brain's ability
to receive, process, store, respond to and communicate information. LDs
are actually a group of disorders, not a single disorder.
Learning disabilities are not the same as intellectual disabilities (formerly known as mental retardation), sensory impairments (vision or hearing) or autism spectrum disorders.
People with LD are of average or above-average intelligence but still
struggle to acquireskills that impact their performance in school, at
home, in the community and in the workplace. Learning disabilities are
lifelong, and the sooner they are recognized and identified, the sooner
steps can be taken to circumvent or overcome the challenges they
present.
How Can You Tell If Someone Has a Learning Disability?
The hallmark sign of a learning disability is a distinct and
unexplained gap between a person's level of expected achievement and
their performance. Learning disabilities affect every person
differentlyand they present differently at various stages of
development.
LDs can range from mild to severe and it is not uncommon
for people to have more than one learning disability. In addition, about
one-third of individuals with LD also have Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
While LD and ADHD can share common features, such as difficulties with
concentration, memory, and organizational skills, they are not the same
types of disorder.
Unfortunately, LD is often confused with ADHD and is
frequently mistaken as laziness or associated with disorders of emotion
and behavior. A careful and thorough review of concerns, with input from
multiple sources (including parents, educators, physicians,
psychologists, speech-language providers and, of course, the person
themselves) is the only way to rule in or rule out a learning
disability.
Learning disabilities can affect a person’s ability in the areas of
- Listening
- Speaking
- Reading
- Writing
- Spelling
- Reasoning
- Mathematics
LD Terminology |
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Disability |
Area of difficulty |
Symptoms include trouble with |
Example |
|
Dyslexia |
Processing language |
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Confusing letter names and sounds, difficulties blending sounds into
words, slow rate of reading, trouble remembering after reading text |
|
Dyscalculia |
Math skills |
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Difficulty learning to count by 2s, 3s, 4s, poor mental math skills, problems with spatial directions |
|
Dysgraphia |
Written expression |
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Illegible handwriting, difficulty organizing ideas for writing |
|
Dyspraxia |
Fine motor skills |
|
Trouble with scissors, buttons, drawing |
Information Processing Disorders |
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Auditory Processing Disorder |
Interpreting auditory information
|
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Difficulty anticipating how a speaker will end a sentence
|
|
Visual Processing Disorder |
Interpreting visual information
|
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Difficulty distinguishing letters like “h” and “n”
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Other Related Disorders |
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Concentration and focus
|
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Can't sit still, loses interest quickly, daydreams
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