Learning Disability
There are many different types of learning disorders. In general, they is defined by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) as the following:
“A disorder in one or more of the
basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using language,
spoken or written that may manifest itself in the imperfect ability to listen,
speak, read, write, spell or do mathematic equations.”
Children with a specific disability may have trouble performing
specific types of skills or tasks. What special education attempts to
do is to provide support and interventions needed to help these children
succeed in school so they can go on to be successful in their adult
life.
If your child is struggling in a single class or suddenly begins to have difficulty with school after being successful, I encourage you to schedule a parent teacher conference immediately.
FACTS ABOUT LEARNING DISABILITIES:
Learning disorders affect the brain’s ability to receive and process information. They are not an indicator of your child’s intelligence. In fact, children with disabilities often have average or above average intelligence. Disabilities are also very common. According to the US Department of Health, 6 million children have some type of problem with learning and receive special education services.
The most common types are difficulties with basic reading and language skills and speech disorders. 80% of children with learning disorders have reading problems.
A learning disability should not be confused with other disabilities such as mental retardation, autism, ADHD, or behavioral disorders.
A child who has had a lack of educational opportunities, has frequently changed schools, has attendance problems or who is learning English may be misdiagnosed with a learning disorder.
TYPES of LEARNING DISABILITIES:
Most learning disorders can be categorized into four areas of information processing. These include input, integration, storage and output.
INPUT: This is the information perceived through the senses such as visual and auditory perception. A disability in this area results in a child having difficulty with recognizing shapes, position or size of items. They can also have problems with sequencing. Auditory perception problems result in the child having a hard time screening out competing sounds in order to focus on one of them, like a teacher’s voice.
INTEGRATION: Integration is the stage during which perceived input is interpreted, categorized, placed in a sequence or related to previous learning. A child with problems in this area may be unable to tell a story in a correct sequence, unable to memorize sequences of information such as days of the week, or be unable to learn facts. They may also have a poor vocabulary.
STORAGE: A child with memory problems has difficulty learning new material without a series of repetitions. It can also be difficult to learn how to spell.
OUTPUT: Information comes out of the brain through words, gesturing, writing or drawing. Difficulties with language output results in a problem with spoken language like answering a question on demand. It can also cause problems with written language. Difficulties with motor abilities can cause either gross or fine motor problems. A child with gross motor delay may be clumsy and prone to stumble, fall or bump into things. They may also have problems running, climbing or learning to ride a bike. A child with fine motor difficulties may struggle with buttoning shirts, tying shoelaces or with handwriting.
SIGNS of LEARNING DISABILITIES:
Trouble learning the alphabet, rhyming words, and connecting letters to sounds.
Making many mistakes when reading aloud
Not understanding what they are reading
Awkward pencil grip and poor handwriting skills
Trouble understanding jokes and sarcasm
Trouble following multiple directions
Trouble organizing thoughts and what they want to say
Not following social rules of conversation
Confusing mathematical symbols and numbers
Not being able to tell a story in order
Not knowing where to begin a task
Emotional and/or social issues
Trouble sleeping or getting along with family
CAUSES AND RISK FACTORS:
No one
knows for sure what causes learning disorders. Sometimes there is no apparent
reason.
Studies have shown that possible risk factors include:
Heredity:
Sometimes, learning problems run in families
Problems
during Pregnancy or Birth:
Disabilities can result from fetal exposure to alcohol or drugs, low birth weight, oxygen deprivation or by premature birth.
Accidents After Birth:
Head injury, malnutrition or toxic exposure can increase a child's risk.
Social-Environment Factors:
Living in a high risk neighborhood and poor living conditions have been linked to children being more vulnerable to disabilities.
Gender:
No significant differences have been found between boys and girls. However,
there are more then twice the amount of boys in special education programs than
girls. Boys are more likely to be evaluated, identified and placed in special
education than girls.
Children with learning disorders may suffer from low self esteem. Trying to find ways to celebrate what they do well and providing numerous opportunities for them to celebrate their strengths helps increase self esteem.
If you suspect your child has a learning disorder you should contact your school and request a student study team meeting. Or, you may refer your child for a special education evaluation and start the IEP process. If your child attends a private school you should read my special section on private school services.
If you child does not qualify for special education services, they may qualify for accommodations under Section 504.
Types of Learning Disabilities
There are many types of learning disabilities that appear in school-aged children. With early intervention, accommodations and modifications, many children overcome their learning problems and are able to achieve their full potential. If your child has been diagnosed with a learning disability, it may not be as problematic as it sounds. The most important thing you can do as a parent is to learn as much as you can about your child's disorder.
Besides dyslexia, there are numerous other types of learning disabilities that appear in school-aged children. These include:
1. Auditory Processing Disorders:
This is one of the most common learning disabilities listed on an IEP. It appears under the category of Specific Learning Disability. Auditory processing disorder means that a child has difficulty understanding sounds. For example, a child will physically hear correctly but doesn’t comprehend the words meaning or use. A child with this problem has trouble understanding spoken directions from a parent or teacher or following a conversation. They are also easily distracted by noise.
2. Aphasia:
Aphasia is a condition that results in the limited ability to use or comprehend words. Those with mild aphasia might have difficulty remembering the names of objects or people while severe forms can impair the ability to speak. Aphasia is not the same as autism.
3. Dyscalculia:
This type of learning disability involves difficulty with calculating numbers or grasping mathematical concepts. There is no single type of math disability as it varies from child to child.
4. Dysgraphia:
This condition involves problems with handwriting. It can include illegible writing, awkward pencil grip, inappropriately sized or spaced letters or spelling problems. Students with this problem sometimes use a laptop computer at school as an accommodation.
5. Dyspraxia:
Children with this problem have difficulties with motor tasks including either large movements or small movements. These can range from walking and balance problems to difficulty with picking up a pencil.
6. Sensory Processing Disorder:
SPD is thought to be a neurological disorder that causes difficulties with processing information from one or several of the five senses. The child perceives things abnormally which causes stress and confusion. These children may incorrectly process information which results in inattentiveness, disorganization and poor school performance. Specific behaviors can include a hypersensitivity to clothes rubbing against the skin, the inability to tolerate normal lighting, a dislike of being touched and being uncomfortable with eye contact.
7. Short and Long Term Memory Problems:
These children have a problem with creating or retrieving memories. Students have trouble remembering facts, numbers and assignments. They also have difficulty following instructions.
8. Visual Processing Disorder:
This disorder involves difficulties understanding visual input. A child doesn’t have sight limitations but has difficulties understanding and using visual information. The child has problem judging physical distances, differentiating between similar letters or objects and understanding spatial relationships.
What is Dyslexia in Children