Learning Disorders

LEARNING DISORDERS

DEFINITION

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Learning disorders are academic problems experienced by children and adults of average to above-average intelligence. Learning disorders involve problems with reading, writing, mathematics, or a combination of these three skills. These difficulties can interfere with a person's ability to do schoolwork, as well as his or her daily activities. Learning disorders are also referred to as learning disabilities.

DESCRIPTION

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Learning disorders affect about two million children between the ages of six and seventeen, or about one out of every twenty schoolchildren. These children have problems learning new information, remembering that information, and knowing how to use the information. The three main types of learning disorders are reading disorders, mathematics disorders, and writing disorders.

Reading Disorders

Reading disorders are the most common type of learning disorder. Children with reading disorders have difficulty recognizing letters and words and remembering what they mean. They also have trouble understanding the sounds and letter groups that make up words. Because of these problems, children with reading disorders often cannot understand materials they read.

Mathematics Disorders

Children with mathematics disorders often have problems recognizing numbers. For example, they may not remember how to use numbers in counting. They have trouble understanding how numbers can apply to everyday situations. Mathematics disorders are often diagnosed in the first few years of elementary school. It is during this period that children first begin to learn mathematical concepts such as addition and subtraction. Children with mathematics disorders often have reading and writing disorders as well.

Writing Disorders

Children with writing disorders have problems with the basic skills of writing such as spelling, punctuation, and grammar. They often have one other type of learning disorder as well—either a reading disorder or a mathematics disorder.

CAUSES

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The brain is divided into various sections that control different behaviors. Some parts of the brain control the ability to speak; others, the ability to understand the spoken word or to recognize what words and numbers mean. In people with learning disorders, one or more of these sections may not function normally.

Some learning disorders may be inherited. Children from families with a history of learning disorders are more likely to develop disorders themselves.

Learning disorders can also be caused by medical conditions. For example, a blow to the head or a brain infection can damage certain parts of the brain, leading to a learning disorder.

SYMPTOMS

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A child's performance in school may offer clues to the presence of a learning disorder. Some children earn high scores on intelligence tests, suggesting that the child should do well in school, but the grades that he or she receives may be far below what those tests predict. This may be a sign of a learning disorder.

A child's schoolwork may also display symptoms of a learning disorder. A boy or girl may confuse words, switch words and letters around, or add or omit syllables from words. These symptoms suggest the presence of a reading disorder.

Symptoms of a writing disorder may often be seen in the kind of written work a student produces. The work may be filled with spelling, grammatical, punctuation, and other errors. The child's handwriting may also be poor.

Children with mathematical disorders often cannot count in the correct sequence. They may not be able to name numbers and perform mathematical operations, such as addition and subtraction.

DIAGNOSIS

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The first step in diagnosing a learning disorder is a complete medical, psychological, and educational examination. The purpose of this examination is to rule out other conditions with symptoms similar to those of learning disorders. For example, a child with mental retardation (see mental retardation entry), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (see attention-deficition/hyperactivity disorder entry), or an unusually poor educational background may show the symptoms of a learning disorder. These conditions are different from a learning disorder and need to be treated differently.

If no medical problems are found, the child can take a series of psychological and educational tests. Some of the tests commonly used include the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, the Woodcock-Johnson Psycho-educational Battery, and the Peabody Individual Achievement Test-Revised. These tests measure the child's native intelligence as well as his or her mental achievements.

TREATMENT

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Once a learning disorder has been diagnosed, an individual education plan (IEP) is developed for the child. An IEP outlines the kind of instructional program that is likely to help the child overcome his or her learning problems. It may involve special instruction within a regular classroom or assignment to a special-education class. All IEPs also provide for annual retesting to measure the child's progress.

An IEP for a child with a reading disorder may focus on helping the child recognize the sounds and meanings of letters and words. As the child progresses, instruction shifts to improving his or her ability to understand words and sentences, to remember what he or she has read, and to learn how to study more efficiently.

Students with writing disorders are often encouraged to keep a journal—a daily record of their activities. They often find it easier to express their thoughts by using a computer rather than paper and pencil. Children with mathematical disorders are often given number problems from everyday life. For example, they are taught how to balance a checkbook or compare prices on a shopping trip.

PROGNOSIS

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The high school dropout rate for children with learning disorders is almost 40 percent. Many of these children are never properly diagnosed or given appropriate instruction. As a result, they never become fully literate.

Learning disorders can also lead to other problems. Children may become frustrated and discouraged. They may not learn how to get along with other children and become aggressive and troublesome.

The prognosis is good for children who are diagnosed early in their school years. Early diagnosis allows the development of IEPs that help them overcome their disorder. Most people who receive proper educational and vocational training can complete college and find a satisfying job.

See also: Dyslexia.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

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Books

Hallowell, Edward. When You Worry about the Child You Love. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1996.

Harris, Jacqueline L. Learning Disorders. New York: Twenty First Century Books, 1995.

Osman, Betty B. Learning Disabilities and ADHD: A Family Guide to Living and Learning Together. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1997.

Organizations

National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD). 381 Park Avenue South, Suite 1401, New York, NY 10016. (212) 545-7510; (888) 575–7373. http://www.ncld.org.

Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA). 4156 Library Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15234-1349. (412) 341-1515. http://www.ldanatl.org.

The National Institute for Literacy. 1775I Street, Suite 730, Washington, DC 20006. (800) 228-8813. http://www.nifl.gov.

Web sites

"LD Online: Learning Disabilities Information and Resources." [Online] The Interactive Guide to Learning Disabilities for Parents, Teachers, and Children. http://www.ldonline.org (accessed on October 22, 1999).