What is a learning disability?
Learning disabilities (LDs) affect how your brain processes information. This could include how you:
- Acquire (take in) information.
- Organize information.
- Retain information.
- Understand information.
- Use information.
LDs can involve verbal (words or speech) and/or nonverbal information. They typically affect how you read, write and/or do math. They can range from mild to severe.
Learning disabilities don’t affect intelligence and are different from intellectual disabilities. People with LDs have specific issues with learning. But they have an average or above-average IQ (intelligence quotient).
Most people with an LD find out about it early in school. But some people don’t get a diagnosis until adolescence or adulthood.
What’s the difference between a learning disability and a learning disorder?
Many people use “learning disability” and “learning disorder” interchangeably. But there are technical differences:
- Learning disorder: This is a diagnostic term. A licensed professional (like a psychologist) diagnoses someone with a learning disorder based on certain criteria. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR) defines “learning disorder” and its criteria.
- Learning disability: This is a legal term. A public school identifies a student with a learning disability based on a variety of assessments and documentation. This may result in legal rights, like the right to an individualized education plan (IEP). In the U.S., the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) defines what a learning disability is.
What are specific learning disorders?
“Specific learning disorder” is the term the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders uses to describe neurodevelopmental disorders that involve consistent difficulty in at least one of three major areas:
Specific learning disorders include:
- Dyslexia (reading disability): This LD makes reading and language-related tasks harder. Dyslexia happens because of disruptions in how your brain processes written words so you can understand them. This may look like issues with spelling simple words, learning the names of letters, rhyming, sounding out new words and more.
- Dysgraphia: This LD affects your ability to turn your thoughts into written language despite exposure to adequate instruction and education. This may look like issues with handwriting legibility, spelling, holding a pencil correctly, the rate or speed of writing, grammar and more.
- Dyscalculia: This LD affects your ability to understand number-based information and math. This may look like issues with counting upwards, doing simple calculations from memory, memorizing multiplication tables, organizing math problems and more.
Nonverbal learning disorder
Nonverbal learning disorders affect activities that don’t involve words or speech, like:
- Problem-solving.
- Visual-spatial tasks
- Recognizing social cues.
The DSM-5-TR doesn’t currently recognize nonverbal LDs as a type of specific learning disorder. But research shows that about 5% of people with LDs have cognitive and academic difficulties associated with nonverbal LDs.
Nonverbal learning disorders can affect:
- Social abilities, like using social language (slang or informal language) or understanding facial expressions or body language.
- Executive functioning, like planning, organizing and emotional regulation.
- Visual-spatial awareness, which can cause issues with coordination.
- Math skills, particularly comprehension of more advanced math topics.
How common are learning disabilities?
Learning disabilities are relatively common. Researchers estimate that 10% of people in the U.S. receive an LD diagnosis at some point in their lives. About 5% of school-aged children globally have LDs.
Dyslexia is the most common. It accounts for at least 80% of LDs.
FAQs
In addition to academic challenges, students with learning differences often face social obstacles. The differences in how their brain processes information may mean that their social skills lag behind their peers', impacting their cognitive processing, language retrieval, executive functioning, and mental health.
What qualifies as a learning disability? ›
What are learning disabilities? Learning disabilities are disorders that affect the ability to: Understand or use spoken or written language. Do mathematical calculations.
How to solve learning disabilities? ›
Treatment options
- Extra help. A reading specialist, math tutor or other trained professional can teach your child ways to do schoolwork, study and get organized.
- Individualized education program (IEP). ...
- Changes in the classroom. ...
- Therapy. ...
- Medicine. ...
- Complementary and alternative treatments.
The Learning Disabilities Association of America and many other mental health practitioners regard the seven disorders as specific learning disabilities i.e. dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, auditory processing disorder, language processing disorder, nonverbal learning disabilities and visual perceptual disabilities.
What is the most challenging learning disability? ›
Dyslexia is the number one learning disability that affects people of all ages. It affects a person's reading and language processing skills. Some symptoms of dyslexia include: Reversing the position of letters.
What is the most commonly diagnosed learning disability? ›
Reading disability (dyslexia) - is the most common LD, representing at least 80% of all LDs, and results from deficits in phonologic processing. Skills necessary for appropriate phonologic processing involve reading decoding, phonics, ability to produce sounds, and proper auditory capabilities.
Can learning disabilities be overcome? ›
Learning disabilities have no cure, but early intervention can lessen their effects. People with learning disabilities can develop ways to cope with their disabilities. Getting help earlier increases the chance of success in school and later in life.
What is the best treatment for learning disabilities? ›
The most common treatment for learning disabilities is special education. A teacher or other learning specialist can help your child learn skills by building on strengths and finding ways to make up for weaknesses.
Can a child with learning disability be successful? ›
Children who learn and think differently can succeed in school, work, and relationships. Often, they can benefit from help that uses their strengths and targets any areas of need.
What disabilities are hard to prove? ›
Common Disabilities That Are Difficult to Prove
Mental Health Disorders: Certain mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other personality disorders can be difficult to prove. Their effects fluctuate over time, and each condition affects a person differently.
The Four D's: Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia and Dyspraxia.
Is ADHD considered a learning disability? ›
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is not a learning disability; however, it does make learning difficult. For example, it is hard to learn when you struggle to focus on what your teacher is saying or when you can't seem to be able to sit down and pay attention to a book. You can have both.
What is the most common problem students with learning disabilities display? ›
Common signs that a person may have learning disabilities include the following: Problems reading and/or writing. Problems with math. Poor memory.
What is the most common problem that characterizes children with learning disabilities? ›
Final answer: The most common problem for children with a learning disability is not mathematics, but reading and spelling, characterised by the condition known as dyslexia. There are other disabilities like dysgraphia and dyscalculia that affect writing and math respectively.
What struggles can a student with a learning disability encounter? ›
But many students with learning and attention disorders also have social and communication problems. They have trouble connecting with other kids, making friends and understanding what's expected of them in social situations. Some of them miss social cues, and misinterpret body language and tone of voice.
What is the most common difficulty children have when they have learning disabilities? ›
The most common types of learning disabilities involve problems with reading, writing, math, reasoning, listening, and speaking. While every kid has trouble with homework from time to time, if a certain area of learning is consistently problematic, it might indicate a learning disorder.
