|
What are Learning Disorders?
A learning disability (LD) is a neurological disorder
that affects the brain’s ability to receive, process, store,
and respond appropriately to information. A person with a learning
disability has at least average intelligence, but struggles to learn
and master basic academic skills. LD is not a single disorder, but
rather a group of frequently overlapping problems. Currently, almost
2.9 million school-aged children in the United
States have been diagnosed with learning disabilities. They make
up about 5% of all school-aged children in our public schools.
Learning disabilities affect a person’s
abilities in such areas as:
- Speaking
- Listening
- Writing
|
|
Learning disabilities show themselves differently
in different people. They may also show themselves differently in
the same person as that person develops and matures. There is usually
an obvious gap between the level of achievement that you would expect
to see in an individual and what he/she is actually achieving. Often
a person with an LD also has problems with behavior, managing emotions,
and interacting socially with others.
What to do
What should you do if you suspect you or your
child has a learning disability? First, you need a diagnosis; it
is important to collect observations by parents, teachers, doctors,
and others who regularly interact with the individual. Then if there
is a pattern of difficulties, the next step is to seek help from
school or a learning specialist for an evaluation. There
is no one single treatment for LD; rather they are managed
by specific accommodations and modifications either in the school,
work, or home environment.
|
