Understanding Learning Disabilities

Many people are plagued with learning disabilities both young and old. This is not as simple as classifying it as mental retardation, learning disabilities come in many varieties and effect many people. Throughout this article we will explore the conditions and what can be done.

Understanding Learning Disabilities: Understanding the Condition
Learning disabilities are usually a hidden handicap that surfaces through maturity. They effect certain abilities to interpret what a person sees, hears, or thinks. Most common learning disabilities show themselves with both written and spoken language coordination (fine motor skills), self control, and attention.

Usually, the characteristics for diagnosing specific learning disabilities are defined in the following categories:
1. Skills disorders
2. Developmental disorders
3. Infamous “other” which means anything that can not be specifically structured by category only.

Understanding Learning Disabilities: Skills Disorder
Especially in children skills disorders can be spotted through academic achievement or more commonly known as academic underachievement. The disabilities usually surface in an child’s reading, writing, and arithmetic studies.

In reading, certain types of learning disabilities are generally diagnosed as dyslexia.
Writing disorder consists of several brain areas and functions. This affects the brain in vocabulary, grammar, hand movement, memory and hand-eye coordination. In this specific learning disability it is most commonly one or two of the above, not necessarily all combined that alerts a professional to this type of disability.

“Other” usually classifies other motor skill problems and developmental disorders that are both otherwise specified in the widely used psychological testing.

Learning disorders usually surface in the first stages of a child's learning.

Credit: Bianca de Blok

Copyright: Bianca de Blok