Learning disabilities, or learning disorders, are an umbrella term for a
wide
variety of learning problems. A learning disability is not a problem with
intelligence or motivation. Kids with learning disabilities aren’t lazy or dumb. In
fact, most are just as smart as everyone else. Their brains are simply wired
differently. This difference affects how they receive and process information.
Simply put, children and adults with learning disabilities see, hear, and
understand things differently. This can lead to trouble with learning new
information and skills, and putting them to use. The most common types of
learning disabilities involve problems with reading, writing, math, reasoning,
listening, and speaking.
Learning disabilities look very different from one child to another. One
child may
struggle with reading and spelling, while another loves books but can’t
understand math. Still another child may have difficulty understanding what
others are saying or communicating out loud. The problems are very different,
but they are all learning disorders.
There are two types of learning disabilities in reading. Basic reading
problems occur when there is difficulty understanding the relationship
between sounds, letters and words. Reading comprehension problems
occur when there is an inability to grasp the meaning of words, phrases,
and paragraphs.
Signs of reading difficulty include problems with:
Learning disabilities in writing can involve the physical act of writing or
the mental activity of comprehending and synthesizing information. Basic
writing disorder refers to physical difficulty forming words and letters.
Expressive writing disability indicates a struggle to organize thoughts on
paper.
Symptoms of a written language learning disability revolve around the act of writing. They include
problems with:
Learning disabilities in math vary greatly depending on the child’s other
strengths and weaknesses. A child’s ability to do math will be affected
differently by a language learning disability, or a visual disorder or a
difficulty with sequencing, memory or organization.
A child with a math–based learning disorder may struggle with
memorization and organization of numbers, operation signs, and number
“facts” (like 5+5=10 or 5x5=25). Children with math learning disorders
might also have trouble with counting principles (such as counting by 2s
or counting by 5s) or have difficulty telling time.
ADHD
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common
childhood brain disorders and can continue through adolescence and
adulthood. Symptoms include difficulty staying focused and paying
attention, difficulty controlling behavior, and hyperactivity (over-activity).
These symptoms can make it difficult for a child with ADHD to succeed in
school, get along with other children or adults, or finish tasks at home.
Treatments can relieve many symptoms of ADHD, but there is currently no
cure for the disorder. With treatment, most people with ADHD can be
successful in school and lead productive lives. Researchers are developing
more effective treatments and interventions, and using new tools such as
brain imaging, to better understand ADHD and to find more effective ways
to treat and prevent it.
Diagnosis of Attention Deficit Disorders:
Because we expect very young children to be easily distractible and
hyperactive, it’s the impulsive behaviors—the dangerous climb, the blurted
insult—that often stand out in preschoolers with ADD/ADHD.
By age four or five, though, most children have learned how to pay attention
to others, to sit quietly when instructed to, and not to say everything that
pops into their heads. So by the time children reach school age, those with
ADD/ADHD stand out in all three behaviors: inattentiveness, hyperactivity,
and impulsivity.
