Symptoms

Types of Learning Disabilities

Learning Disabilities are a class of neurological disorders that impact the way a person learns. There are three Learning Disabilities: Dyslexia, Dysgraphia and Dyscalculia. Today many educational institutions have become very good at understanding if a child may have a Learning Disability and often contact the child’s parents. However, if you think that your child or you yourself may have a Learning Disability, the description of symptoms below may help.

Is the difficulty with reading, spelling, the ability to hear and manipulate sounds in words. Dyslexic students often struggle to understand what they read and may develop vocabulary at a slower rate.

Individuals with dyscalculia struggle with basic number recognition, making sense of mathematics and early number concepts as well as have difficulties with mathematical calculations and reasoning.

Dysgraphia refers to more than simply having poor handwriting. People with dysgraphia struggle with the motor skills necessary to write their thoughts on paper, spelling, and the thinking skills needed for vocabulary retrieval, clarity of thought, grammar, and memory.

Though it is not considered a learning disability, research suggests that between 30% and 50% of children who have ADHD also have a specific learning disability. ADHD is characterised by difficulty in paying attention, controlling behaviour and hyperactivity. This can make it difficult for a child to acquire knowledge in a standardised teaching environment. If the child is diagnosed with ADHD and a learning disability, the inability to focus coupled with their learning challenges can make it more difficult to learn. 

If the individual has a Learning Disability, it may impact their schooling. Therefore early intervention is extremely important. Though a Learning Disability is not curable, there are several systems that can be utilised to help the individual reach their greatest potential. Furthermore, it is vital that if the individual with an LD is a child, a parent or guardian advocates for them. Most countries and educational institutions have systems in place to help students who learn differently. For example, the individual with an LD may be allowed to type their exams, use spell check or a calculator. They may be entitled to extra time as well. Furthermore, many schools have resources available for children with LDs, such as extra tutoring.

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