A person with a learning disability (LD) almost always has an average IQ or an above-average IQ. The problem lies in the brain’s inability to process sensory information, which majority of the population have no problem doing.
Common types of learning disabilities
LD types are grouped into different learning areas:
Language
Included under this group are LDs of written expression and reading disorders. Dyslexia is on of the most common reading disorders. We’ve read that even famous people such as Winston Churchill, Woodrow Wilson, Tom Cruise, and Whoopi Goldberg were or are dyslexics, but have successfully found ways to conquer their LD.
Written language is confounding to dyslexics. They tend to confuse letters such as p with q and b with d; sometimes, they interchange letters when spelling a word, such as “does” morphing into “dose,” and even omit letters from words. It is not similar to reading difficulties resulting from inadequate instruction or those related to deficiencies in hearing or vision.
People with dyslexia may also have difficulties in Math because of their predisposition of mixing numbers up. Dysgraphia also falls under language LDs, and it refers to difficulties with writing.
Communication disorders
Types of communication disorders are stuttering, aphasia, phonological disorders, expressive language disorder, and mixed receptive-expressive language disorder. This can stem from reading disorders such as dyslexia. Children with this LD should be encouraged to speak in class, but it is best if the teacher first encourages other students to accept the LD child.
Calculation
Falling under this category are disorders related to difficulties in Math. Dyscalculia, or the difficulty in comprehending Math, sometimes goes hand in hand with problems in measurement, time, and orientation (spatial reasoning). Research suggests that dyscalculia may be affecting roughly 5% of the population, but it may be detected at a young age.
A few of the symptoms of dyscalculia are: difficulty determining which number is larger; confusing the mathetical operation symbols; problems telling right from left; having a poor sense of direction; trouble with estimating the distance of an object (whether it is 20 or 30 feet away); interchanging numbers, such as 52 and 25 or 36 and 63; and difficulties assessing the passage of time.
Difficulties with motor skills
Developmental coordination disorder (DCD), also known as dyspraxia, is characterized by a difficulty to get our bodies to do something we want them to do at a given time. This LD can be debilitating especially to a child when he or she cannot perform certain activities expected of a child his or her age. It is distinct from conditions associated with diseases such as muscular dystrophy, hemiplegia, or cerebral palsy.
Screening for this type of LD includes touch sensitivity, various walking activities, physical sequencing, and balancing. Teachers usually recognize this LD when a child first attempts common activities like buttoning a shirt, playing ball, holding a fork and knife, or running.
Its prevalence in children 5-11 years of age has been found to be as high as 6%. The etiology for dyspraxia is uncertain but it has definitely been linked to central nervous system pathology. There is also no known cure for it, but children benefit from smaller classes where they can be given one-on-one instruction.
Many learning disabilities are carried into adulthood, but coping mechanisms can be very helpful for people with LD to lead a normal life. Individualized Education Programs, or IEPs, are utilized by educational institutions to aid children before eventually mainstreaming them. The support of family and friends is also essential to boost the confidence of people with LD, who comprise about 1.69% of people in the United States.
