What Are Learning Disabilities?

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What are learning disabilities?Learning disabilities are a group of neurodevelopmental disordersthat can significantly hamper a person’s ability tolearnnew 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.

What are learning disabilities?

Learning disabilities are a group of neurodevelopmental disordersthat can significantly hamper a person’s ability tolearnnew 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.

This article explores the types, causes, symptoms, and treatment of learning disabilities.

People with learning disabilities generally have average to superior intelligence and are often gifted in science, math, fine arts, and other creative mediums.However, there can be gaps between their potential and the skills expected from a personof their age.Nevertheless, some of history’s most accomplished, influential people had learning disabilities, including Albert Einstein, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Edison, and Winston Churchill.

People with learning disabilities generally have average to superior intelligence and are often gifted in science, math, fine arts, and other creative mediums.However, there can be gaps between their potential and the skills expected from a personof their age.

Nevertheless, some of history’s most accomplished, influential people had learning disabilities, including Albert Einstein, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Edison, and Winston Churchill.

Types of Learning Disabilities

“Learning disability” is an umbrella term that encompasses many types of specific learning disorders, including:

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Symptoms of Learning Disabilities

These are some of the symptoms of learning disabilities:

While all children struggle with some of these things from time to time during their school years, people with learning disabilities tend to have a cluster of these symptoms that persist even as they get older.

According to the National Institute for Learning Development (NILD),frustrationis a hallmark of this condition, since people with learning disabilities often excel at some things but do very poorly in other areas, and are often acutely aware of the gaps between what they can and cannot do.

The NILD notes that people with learning disabilities often find themselves failing in certain academic or professional areas due to reasons beyond their control, or having to put in tremendous amounts of effort in order to succeed. This experience can be difficult, confusing, and demotivating, often causing the person to feel sad and disappointed.

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Causes of Learning Disabilities

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

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Diagnosing Learning Disabilities

A healthcare professional can diagnose learning disabilities. The diagnostic process might involve:

Every learning disability has different symptoms, and everyone’s experience of the condition is unique. The signs, frequency, and intensity of symptoms can vary considerably.Some people may have a single, isolated learning difficulty that doesn’t cause issues in day-to-day life; others have overlapping learning disabilities that make it difficult for them to function without support.

Learning disabilities typically develop at a young age and are often diagnosed during the person’s school years, since the primary focus at school is learning.An estimated 8% to 10% of American children younger than 18 have learning disabilities.However, some people are not diagnosed with learning disabilities until they attend college or get a job; others never receive an official diagnosis, so they go through life without knowing why they have trouble with academics, work, relationships, or day-to-day tasks.

Treating Learning Disabilities

Learning disabilities are lifelong conditions that cannot be fixed or cured; however, with timely diagnosis, treatment, and support, people with learning disabilities can be successful at school, work, and among their community.

Treatment for learning disabilities may involve:

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Takeaways

Every human being is equipped with a unique set of strengths and weaknesses that enable them to do some things effortlessly but struggle in other areas. Although people with learning disabilities have some challenges with learning, they arenot in any way inferior to anyone else. Special education, treatment, support, kindness, and patience can help them achieve success.

11 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Vidyadharan V, Tharayil HM.Learning disorder or learning disability: Time to rethink.Indian J Psychol Med. 2019;41(3):276-278. doi:10.4103/IJPSYM.IJPSYM_371_18National Institute for Learning Development.What is a learning disability?National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Learning disabilities.Learning Difficulties Association of America.Types of learning disabilities.Walden University.7 learning disabilities every psychology professional should study.Kohli A, Sharma S, Padhy SK.Specific learning disabilities: Issues that remain unanswered.Indian J Psychol Med. 2018;40(5):399-405. doi:10.4103/IJPSYM.IJPSYM_86_18Learning Difficulties Association of America.Symptoms of learning disabilities.American Academy of Pediatricians.Diagnosing a learning disability.National Health Service.Learning disabilities.National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.How are learning disabilities diagnosed?National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.What are some signs of learning disabilities?

11 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Vidyadharan V, Tharayil HM.Learning disorder or learning disability: Time to rethink.Indian J Psychol Med. 2019;41(3):276-278. doi:10.4103/IJPSYM.IJPSYM_371_18National Institute for Learning Development.What is a learning disability?National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Learning disabilities.Learning Difficulties Association of America.Types of learning disabilities.Walden University.7 learning disabilities every psychology professional should study.Kohli A, Sharma S, Padhy SK.Specific learning disabilities: Issues that remain unanswered.Indian J Psychol Med. 2018;40(5):399-405. doi:10.4103/IJPSYM.IJPSYM_86_18Learning Difficulties Association of America.Symptoms of learning disabilities.American Academy of Pediatricians.Diagnosing a learning disability.National Health Service.Learning disabilities.National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.How are learning disabilities diagnosed?National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.What are some signs of learning disabilities?

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Vidyadharan V, Tharayil HM.Learning disorder or learning disability: Time to rethink.Indian J Psychol Med. 2019;41(3):276-278. doi:10.4103/IJPSYM.IJPSYM_371_18National Institute for Learning Development.What is a learning disability?National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Learning disabilities.Learning Difficulties Association of America.Types of learning disabilities.Walden University.7 learning disabilities every psychology professional should study.Kohli A, Sharma S, Padhy SK.Specific learning disabilities: Issues that remain unanswered.Indian J Psychol Med. 2018;40(5):399-405. doi:10.4103/IJPSYM.IJPSYM_86_18Learning Difficulties Association of America.Symptoms of learning disabilities.American Academy of Pediatricians.Diagnosing a learning disability.National Health Service.Learning disabilities.National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.How are learning disabilities diagnosed?National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.What are some signs of learning disabilities?

Vidyadharan V, Tharayil HM.Learning disorder or learning disability: Time to rethink.Indian J Psychol Med. 2019;41(3):276-278. doi:10.4103/IJPSYM.IJPSYM_371_18

National Institute for Learning Development.What is a learning disability?

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Learning disabilities.

Learning Difficulties Association of America.Types of learning disabilities.

Walden University.7 learning disabilities every psychology professional should study.

Kohli A, Sharma S, Padhy SK.Specific learning disabilities: Issues that remain unanswered.Indian J Psychol Med. 2018;40(5):399-405. doi:10.4103/IJPSYM.IJPSYM_86_18

Learning Difficulties Association of America.Symptoms of learning disabilities.

American Academy of Pediatricians.Diagnosing a learning disability.

National Health Service.Learning disabilities.

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.How are learning disabilities diagnosed?

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.What are some signs of learning disabilities?

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