Learning disabilities impact anywhere from 8% to 10% of all US children according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. That’s a lot of children. But what is a learning disability? Very simply put, it is a group of neurodevelopmental disorders that make it difficult to learn in an academic setting.  “Neuro” refers to the brain and  “developmental” refers to skills that develop from infancy on having to do with our ability to learn. Individuals who have trouble with speaking, reading, writing, paying attention, processing information, remembering things, performing mathematical calculations, or even coordinating their movements (which may impact such things as handwriting) may end up with a learning disability.

Although learning disabilities typically develop at a young age and are often diagnosed during the person’s school years, they also go undiagnosed for many people their entire lives.  Such individuals go through life without knowing why they have so much trouble with academics, work, relationships, and basic day-to-day tasks.

Many people mistakenly believe that a learning disability is the result of a low IQ. This is simply not the case, as people with learning disabilities generally have average to superior intelligence and are often gifted in fields such as science, math, and the creative arts.  That said, individuals with a learning disability often experience a gap between their potential and their performance.

Turns out that those of us with learning disabilities are in exceptionally good company. Indeed some of the most accomplished and influential people in history have had learning disabilities, including Albert Einstein, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Edison, and Winston Churchill according to the National Institute for Learning and Development.

SYMPTOMS OF LEARNING DISABILITIES

These are some of the symptoms of learning disabilities:

• Poor memory

• Difficulty focusing

• Short attention span

• Difficulty with reading or writing

• Inability to distinguish between sounds, letters, or numbers

• Difficulty sounding out words

• Tendency to put numbers or letters in the wrong sequence

• Difficulty telling time

• Confusion between right and left

• Tendency to reverse letters

• Difficulty grasping certain words and concepts

• Disconnect between words and meaning (i.e.. saying one thing but meaning another)

• Difficulty expressing thoughts and emotions

• Poor hand-eye coordination

• Delayed speech development

• Disorganization

• Trouble with listening and following instructions

• Inappropriate responses

• Restlessness and impulsiveness

• Difficulty with discipline

• Resistance to change

• Inconsistent performance on a daily or weekly basis

CAUSES OF LEARNING DISABILITIES

Learning disabilities are caused by differences in the person’s brain that usually occur before the person is born, during their birth, or in early childhood, and may be caused by such factors as:

• Maternal illness during pregnancy

• Birth complications that block the flow of oxygen to the baby’s brain

• Certain genes that can make the person more genetically predisposed to developing a learning disability

• Injury or illness, such as meningitis, in early childhood

• Health conditions such as cerebral palsy and Down’s syndrome may result in a learning disability

On the other hand, learning disabilities should not be mistaken for problems that arise due to other factors such as:

• Visual, hearing, verbal, or motor handicaps

• Low IQ

• Emotional disturbances

• Economic, cultural, or environmental disadvantages

DIAGNOSING LEARNING DISABILITIES

A neuropsychologist or psychologist specializing in learning disabilities can diagnose learning disabilities. 

The diagnostic process might involve:

• Academic testing: The healthcare provider may administer a standardized achievement test that checks the person’s reading, writing, and arithmetic skills, as well as an IQ test and compares the scores. If the person performs well on the IQ test but has a lower score on the achievement test, it indicates that they may have a learning disability.

• Performance review: The healthcare provider may review and evaluate the person’s academic, professional, social, and developmental performance.

• Medical history: The healthcare provider will likely ask questions about the person’s personal and family medical history in order to rule out medical causes.

• Physical and neurological exam: The healthcare provider may ask for a physical and neurological exam to rule out health conditions such as brain diseases or injury, other medical conditions or developmental problems that might impact learning.

Every learning disability has different symptoms and everyone’s experience of the condition is unique as they may experience differences in the frequency and intensity of their symptoms, making it imperative to have a proper evaluation.

Treating Learning Disabilities

Although learning disabilities are more or less permanent and cannot be “cured” they can be managed well enough to minimize their impact. The key to success is early diagnosis, effective treatment, and lots of support.

 

Treatment for learning disabilities may involve:

• Educational support: Children with learning disabilities benefit from having specially trained teachers and psychologists who can identify the child’s academic strengths and weaknesses and develop a comprehensive learning plan to address those needs that are tailored to that child’s needs.
• Children who attend school will likely need to get an IEP (individualized educational plan) that will ensure they get the proper services in school. I have found that when I attend the IEP meeting, the school is significantly more helpful than when the parents go it alone.

Once your child has an IEP, they will be entitled by law to receive special services at school. These may include extra time on exams and homework and instruction from a math, reading and/or dyslexia specialist. It’s important to be an advocate for your child’s needs and to work in coordination with your child’s school so that what is taught at school is also implemented and reinforced at home.

 

• Medication: While I am not a big believer in medication, in extreme cases some people may need to take medication to help manage the anxiety that can accompany a learning disability. I have found that clean food and exercise go a long way toward reducing anxiety and prefer a healthy lifestyle to any medication.

• Therapy: Psychotherapy is an even better way of  helping people with learning disabilities deal with emotional issues and develop coping skills.

• Other interventions: People with learning disabilities also benefit from other interventions such as speech and language therapy, which often go hand in hand with a learning disability.

TYPES OF LEARNING DISABILITIES

The term “learning disability” actually refers to many specific types of learning disorders, including:

Dyslexia: Dyslexia, or difficulty reading, is the most common learning disability, representing 80% of all learning disabilities. In fact, it is believed to affect 20% of the US population.

 

People who have dyslexia find it difficult to connect the letters they see on the page with the sounds that the letters make. As such, they often have difficulty blending letter sounds to form words, and may have trouble with learning to read and spell.

 

There are often other features of dyslexia that can be overlooked. Dyslexia can make it difficult for someone to speak about a topic in a coherent way, understand and follow directions, and repeat words in the proper order. Dyslexia also makes it difficult to express one’s self in an organized way. As a result, many individuals with dyslexia have self-esteem issues.

 

Again, dyslexia is not correlated with low IQ. Likewise, although dyslexia is a lifelong condition, early detection and proper support can drastically change the impact that it has as treatment can be very effective in learning to manage the condition and in so doing, mitigate the impact.

 

SIGNS OF DYSLEXIA

Everybody experiences dyslexia a little differently, but the main signs of dyslexia have to do with difficulty processing letters and their sounds, sounding out words on the page, and reading with ease and fluidity. People with dyslexia may also have trouble with writing and speaking, or any kind of language processing.

 

When it comes to making a diagnosis, the way dyslexia presents varies according to how old you are. Let’s take a look at common dyslexia signs, by age group.

Preschool

• Trouble learning the letters of the alphabet

• Trouble remembering and recognizing rhymes, such as in nursery rhymes

• Doesn’t recognize the letters in their name

Kindergarten and First Grade

• Has trouble sounding out simple words like “sat” and “tap”

• Has difficulty recognizing sight words

• Struggles to connect letters with their sounds

• May show resistance when reading time comes up at school

Second Grade Through High School

• Has a lower than average reading level, despite having a normal intelligence level

• Reads with difficulty and tries to avoid reading

• Doesn’t feel comfortable reading out loud

• Has trouble sounding out unfamiliar words

Adults

• Can read, but with more effort than most people

• Reading is a slow, tedious process

• Doesn’t enjoy reading for pleasure

DIAGNOSIS OF DYSLEXIA

Diagnosis of dyslexia is usually done by a licensed clinical psychologist or neuropsychologist. This is not a medical evaluation, so no blood tests☺ Instead, skill-based tests are used. These tests look at a person’s ability to decode words, read fluently, spell, and recognize words. Writing and speaking skills may also be evaluated. 

Examples of tests used to diagnose dyslexia include:

• Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS)

• AIMSweb screening assessments

• Predictive Assessment of Reading (PAR)

• Texas Primary Reading Inventory (TPRI)

CAUSES OF DYSLEXIA

We are not really sure what causes dyslexia. But many people who have dyslexia also have family members with it, such that many experts assume that certain genes may be involved. Studies have found that people with dyslexia do have differences in the parts of the brain responsible for recognizing letters, words, and written language.

TREATMENT FOR DYSLEXIA

As with other learning disabilities, there is no medication that can treat dyslexia. Instead, people with dyslexia may benefit by working with a neuropsychologist specializing in the treatment of learning disabilities who can offer them strategies for managing the condition. (See section on treatment for learning disabilities.)

There are various specialized dyslexia reading programs. They are often based on or include elements of the Orton-Gillingham approach. Its research-based method is widely regarded as an effective form of treatment for dyslexia. Not all reading programs are helpful for dyslexic students. Look for ones that include phonemic awareness, fluency, and detailed guidelines for spelling rules.

Your child’s school may have specially trained teachers that can provide the help they need. However, not all schools do, in which case you could find a special tutor to work with your child after school. If your child has an IEP (Individualized Educational Program) the accommodations for ADD/ADHD and dyslexia can be very helpful for your child to be able to achieve their academic potential.

COPING WITH YOUR CHILD’S DYSLEXIA

Noticing that your child is struggling with reading can come as an emotional gut punch, and you might feel stressed about your child’s future if you find out that they have dyslexia. Try to stay positive and keep in mind that having dyslexia doesn’t mean that your child lacks intelligence; it’s simply that their brain processes letters and decodes words with more difficulty. The first step is getting your child a diagnosis. Once you have that, they will begin to get the help they need making reading much less of a struggle.

1. Dysgraphia: People with dysgraphia may have difficulty putting their thoughts into written form. This condition is characterized by poor handwriting, as the person may struggle with letter spacing, spatial awareness, and motor planning. Dysgraphia can make it hard for the person to think and write simultaneously.

2. Dyscalculia: Sometimes known as “math dyslexia,” this condition includes learning disorders related to mathematics, such as difficulty with numbers, concepts, and reasoning. People with dyscalculia may struggle to count money, read clocks and tell time, perform mental math calculations, identify number patterns, and apply mathematical formulae.

3. Auditory processing disorder (APD): People with APD may have difficulty processing sounds because their brain misinterprets auditory information received by the ear. As a result, they may confuse the order of sounds in certain words, or they may not be able to distinguish between sounds such as the teacher’s voice and the background noise in the classroom.

4. Language processing disorder (LPD): This is a subset of APD, characterized by difficulties with processing spoken language. The person may have difficulty attaching meaning to sound groups representing words, sentences, and stories.

5. Nonverbal learning disabilities (NVLD): NVLD is characterized by difficulty interpreting nonverbal cues such as facial expressions, body language, tone of voice, and other nonverbal signals. This is also a common issue for people with autism.

6. Visual perceptual/visual motor deficit: People with this condition may have difficulty with hand-eye coordination and motor activities. They may frequently lose their spot while reading, demonstrate unusual eye movements while reading or writing, confuse similar-looking letters, have difficulty navigating their physical environment, and struggle to manage items like pens, pencils, crayons, glue, and scissors.