Learning Disorders
What is a learning disorder?
A learning disorder is defined as difficulty in an academic area (reading,
mathematics, or written expression). The child's ability to achieve in the
specific academic area is below what is expected for the child's age,
educational level, and level of intelligence. The difficulty experienced
by the child is severe enough to interfere with academic achievement or
age-appropriate normal activities of daily living. Learning disorders are
sometimes called learning disabilities, or specific learning disabilities.
Most children with learning disorders have normal intelligence. Types of
learning disorders include the following:
- reading disorders (sometimes called dyslexia)
- mathematics disorder
- disorder of written expression
What causes learning disorders?Learning disorders are believed to occur because of an
abnormality in the nervous system, either in the structure of the brain or
in the functioning of brain chemicals. The difference in the nervous
system causes the child with a learning disorder to receive, process, or
communicate information in a different way.
Who is affected by learning disorders?Ten to 30 percent of children have learning disorders.
Mathematics disorder is estimated to affect 1 percent of school-aged
children. Reading disorders are more common in children of parents who
experienced a learning disorder. Boys are more likely to be diagnosed with
a reading disorder than girls.
Genetic predisposition, problems during pregnancy, birth, or early
infancy, as well as other general medical conditions may be associated
with the cause of learning disorders.
What are the symptoms of learning disorders?
The following are the most common symptoms of learning disorders. However,
each child may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:
- reading disorder
A reading disorder is present when a child reads below the expected
level given his/her age, grade in school, and intelligence. Children
with a reading disorder read slowly and have difficulty understanding
what they read. They may have difficulty with word recognition and
confuse words that look similar. A reading disorder is sometimes called
dyslexia.
- mathematics disorder
A mathematics disorder is present when a child has problems with skills
related to numbers, such as counting, copying numbers correctly, adding
and carrying numbers, learning multiplication tables, recognizing
mathematical signs, and understanding mathematical operations.
- disorder of written expression
A disorder of written expression is present when a child has difficulty
with writing skills, such as understanding grammar and punctuation,
spelling, paragraph organization, or composing written information.
Often these children also have poor handwriting skills.
How are learning disorders diagnosed?The signs of learning disorders may be identified by parents or
teachers when a child consistently has difficulty with any, or all, of the
following:
- reading, spelling, writing, or completing math problems
- understanding or following directions
- distinguishing right from left
- reversing letters or numbers (confusing "b" and "d" or 12 and 21)
A comprehensive evaluation by educational and mental health
professionals includes educational and psychological testing, as well as
talking with the child and parents. A comprehensive evaluation identifies
whether a child has a learning disorder as well as learning strengths and
weaknesses. Results of the evaluation are used to determine educational
needs, identify the best school placement, determine the possible need for
medication to help with distractibility or hyperactivity, and determine
the possible benefit of any additional therapies such as speech therapy or
family psychotherapy to maximize the child's learning potential and
quality of life.
Treatment for learning disorders:Specific treatment for learning disorders will be determined by
the coordinated effort of your child's physician, and mental health and
educational professionals based on:
- your child's age, overall health, and medical history
- extent of the disorder
- type of disorder
- your child's tolerance for specific medications or therapies
- expectations for the course of the disorder
- your opinion or preference
Learning disorders are treatable. A coordinated effort between parents,
teachers, and mental health professionals provides the basis for
individualized treatment strategies that may include individual or group
remediation, and/or special classes or resources.
Prevention of learning disorders:Preventive measures to reduce the incidence of learning
disorders are not known at this time. However, early detection and
intervention can reduce the severity of academic difficulties and improve
the quality of life experienced by children with learning disorders.
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