Learning Disability

Definition

Learning disabilities are a group of neurodevelopmental disorders that can significantly

hamper a person’s ability to learn new things. As a result, the person may have trouble with tasks such as speaking, reading, writing, paying attention, understanding information, remembering things, performing mathematical calculations, or coordinating movements.

“Learning disability” is an umbrella term that encompasses many types of specific learning

disorders, including:

Dyslexia: Dyslexia is the most common learning disability, accounting for 80% of all

learning disability cases. It is a language processing disorder characterized by difficulty

with speaking, reading, writing, or understanding words. This can cause the person’s

vocabulary to develop at a slower pace and lead to issues with grammar, reading

comprehension, and other language skills.

Dysgraphia: People with dysgraphia may have difficulty putting their thoughts into

writing due to issues with vocabulary, spelling, grammar, memory, and critical thinking.

This condition is characterized by poor handwriting, as the person may struggle with

letter spacing, spatial awareness, and motor planning. Dysgraphia can make it hard for

the person to think and write simultaneously.

Dyscalculia: Sometimes known as “math dyslexia,” this condition includes learning

disorders related to mathematics, such as difficulty with numbers, concepts, and

reasoning. People with dyscalculia may struggle to count money, read clocks and tell

time, perform mental math calculations, identify number patterns, and apply

mathematical formulae.

Auditory processing disorder (APD): People with APD may have difficulty processing sounds because their brain misinterprets auditory information received by the ear. As a result, they may confuse the order of sounds in certain words, or they may not be able to distinguish between sounds such as the teacher’s voice and the background noise in the classroom.
Language processing disorder (LPD): This is a subset of APD, characterized by

difficulties with processing spoken language. The person may have difficulty attaching

meaning to sound groups representing words, sentences, and stories.

Nonverbal learning disabilities (NVLD): NVLD is characterized by difficulty

interpreting nonverbal cues such as facial expressions, body language, tone of voice, and other nonverbal signals.

Visual perceptual/visual motor deficit: People with this condition may have difficulty

with hand-eye coordination and motor activities. They may frequently lose their spot

while reading, demonstrate unusual eye movements while reading or writing, confuse

similar-looking letters, have difficulty navigating their environment, and struggle to

manage items like pens, pencils, crayons, glue, and scissors.

Key Signs and Symptoms:

These are some of the symptoms of learning disabilities:

Poor memory
Difficulty focusing
Short attention span
Difficulty with reading or writing
Inability to distinguish between sounds, letters, or numbers
Difficulty sounding out words
Tendency to put numbers or letters in the wrong sequence
Difficulty telling time
Confusion between right and left
Tendency to reverse letters
Difficulty grasping certain words and concepts
Disconnect between words and meaning (i.e.. saying one thing but meaning another)
Difficulty expressing thoughts and emotions
Poor hand-eye coordination
Delayed speech development
Disorganization
Trouble with listening and following instructions
Inappropriate responses
Restlessness and impulsiveness
Tendency to act out
Difficulty with discipline
Resistance to change
Inconsistent performance on a daily or weekly basis

Causes of Learning Disabilities:

Learning disabilities are caused by differences in the neurological functioning of the

person’s brain. These differences can occur before the person is born, during their birth, or in early childhood, and may be caused by factors such as:

Maternal illness during pregnancy
Birth complications that block the flow of oxygen to the baby’s brain
Certain genes that can make the person more genetically predisposed to developing a learning disability
Injury or illness, such as meningitis, in early childhood
Health conditions such as cerebral palsy and Down’s syndrome often involve some extent of learning disability

However, it’s important to note that learning disabilities should not be mistaken for learning problems that arise due to other factors such as:

Visual, hearing, verbal, or motor handicaps
Intellectual disability
Emotional disturbances
Economic, cultural, or environmental disadvantages

Assessment

Diagnostic Procedures done at speech-sy’s include:-

Standardized Tests: Tools like the Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals (CELF) for language disorders or the Woodcock-Johnson Tests for learning disabilities.
Speech Analysis: Evaluating articulation, fluency, voice quality, and language comprehension through structured tasks.
Observational Assessments: Observing communication behaviors in natural settings (e.g., classroom or home).
Developmental History Review: Gathering information about milestones suchfirst words and early academic performance.
Hearing Screening: Rule out hearing impairments as a cause of speech delays.
Cognitive Assessments: Evaluating memory, attention span, and problem-solving skills related to learning disabilities.test tool used :-Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC)

Management

Speech-sy’s approach for management for learning disability includes :-

Phonological Awareness: Helping students develop the ability to hear, identify, and manipulate sounds in words.
Phoneme-Grapheme Mapping: Teaching students the relationship between sounds and letters.
Reading Fluency: Improving the speed, accuracy, and automaticity of reading.
Vocabulary Development: Expanding students’ vocabulary and their ability to understand and use new words.
Comprehension: Helping students understand what they read and what they hear.
Written Language: Improving students’ ability to write clearly and effectively.
Oral Language: Improving students’ ability to speak clearly and express themselves effectively.
Social Communication: Helping students understand and use language in social situations.

Outcomes

Improved expressive and receptive language skills
Enhanced social communication and interaction
Better reading fluency and comprehension
Improved writing skills
Increased confidence and independence
Enhanced quality of life
Better employment opportunities