Learning Disabilities On this page:
Learning disabilities are disorders that affect the ability to understand
or use spoken or written language, do mathematical calculations, coordinate
movements, or direct attention. Although learning disabilities occur in very
young children, the disorders are usually not recognized until the child
reaches school age.
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The most common treatment for learning disabilities is special education.
Specially trained educators may perform a diagnostic educational evaluation
assessing the child’s academic and intellectual potential and level of academic
performance. Once the evaluation is complete, the basic approach is to teach
learning skills by building on the child’s abilities and strengths while
correcting and compensating for disabilities and weaknesses. Other professionals
such as speech and language therapists also may be involved. Some medications
may be effective in helping the child learn by enhancing attention and concentration.
Psychological therapies may also be used.
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Learning disabilities can be lifelong conditions. In some people,
several overlapping learning disabilities may be apparent. Other
people may have a single, isolated learning problem that has
little impact on their lives.
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The NINDS and other institutes of the National Institutes of Health
including the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development,
the National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders,
and the National Institute of Mental Health support research on
learning disabilities. Current research avenues focus on developing
techniques to diagnose and treat learning disabilities and increase
understanding of the biological basis of learning disabilities.
Dyslexia is a brain-based type of learning disability that specifically
impairs a person’s ability to read. These individuals typically
read at levels significantly lower than expected despite having
normal intelligence. Although the disorder varies from person
to person, common characteristics among people with dyslexia
are difficulty with phonological processing (the manipulation
of sounds) and/or rapid visual-verbal responding.
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The main focus of treatment should be on the specific learning
problems of affected individuals. The usual course is to modify
teaching methods and the educational environment to meet the
specific needs of the individual with dyslexia.
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For those with dyslexia, the prognosis is mixed. The disability
affects such a wide range of people, producing different symptoms
and varying degrees of severity, that predictions are hard to make.
The prognosis is generally good, however, for individuals whose
dyslexia is identified early, who have supportive family and friends
and a strong self-image, and who are involved in a proper remediation
program.
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Dysgraphia is a neurological disorder characterized by writing
disabilities. Specifically, the disorder causes a person's writing
to be distorted or incorrect. In children, the disorder generally
emerges when they are first introduced to writing. They make inappropriately
sized and spaced letters, or write wrong or misspelled words, despite
thorough instruction. Children with the disorder may have other
learning disabilities, however, they usually have no social or
other academic problems. Cases of dysgraphia in adults generally
occur after some trauma. In addition to poor handwriting, dysgraphia
is characterized by wrong or odd spelling, and production of words
that are not correct (i.e., using "boy" for "child"). The cause
of the disorder is unknown.
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Treatment for dysgraphia varies and may include treatment for
motor disorders to help control writing movements. Other treatments
may address impaired memory or other neurological problems. Some
physicians recommend that individuals with dysgraphia use computers
to avoid the problems of handwriting.
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Some individuals with dysgraphia improve their writing ability,
but for others, the disorder persists.
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CHADD - Children
and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
International
Dyslexia Association
Learning
Disabilities Association of America
National Center
for Learning Disabilities
National
Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
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