Learning Disabilities


According to the National Institute of Health, it is estimated that as many as one in seven Americans, or fifteen percent of the United States, has some form of Learning Disability. This type of disability affects a person's ability to read, write, think, speak, organize information, behave appropriately and/or do mathematical calculations. These problems cannot ever be cured completely. However, with proper accommodations, a person with a learning disability can lead a very normal and successful life.

Causes

There is no consensus or hard evidence as to the cause of learning disabilities. Common misconceptions are that learning disabilities stem from retardation, deafness, blindness, behavioral disorders or mental illness. Attention disorders such as Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are often confused with learning disabilities as well. While it is possible for learning disabilities to occur simultaneously with attention disorders, they are not the same.

Other misconceptions focus on environmental factors such as the quality of education, frequent school changes, English as a second language or socioeconomic status. None of these factors have been shown to influence the development of learning disabilities in children or adults.

Conditions such as a brain injury, brain dysfunction, dyslexia, developmental aphasia and perceptual handicaps are all included within the parameters of the title “learning disability.”

It is widely believed that people with a learning disability suffer from a neurological disorder that affects the way the brain is structured and how it works. It has also been found that learning disabilities run in families, which would signal an underlying genetic cause. Although these theories are widely held, they have yet to be confirmed beyond a shadow of a doubt.

Symptoms

Because learning disabilities are not visible, diagnosing the disorder can be difficult. Many times, the disability goes undetected until a series of academic failures occur. The differing characteristics and severity of learning disabilities can also confuse the diagnosis.

Parents and professionals are encouraged to keep a watchful eye on young children to spot signs of a learning disability. While there are no exact symptoms etched in stone, children who have these disabilities often do not reach developmental milestones such as learning words and their meanings, following directions, finishing tasks or understanding jokes at the same time their peers do.

In addition to observation at home and at school, there are formal tests administered by professionals that can help determine if observed behaviors are indicative of a learning disability. If you suspect you or your child has a Learning Disability, it is advisable to go ahead with these tests to obtain a correct diagnosis so you can begin to deal with the problem.

Living with Learning Disabilities

If you or your child is positively diagnosed with a learning disability, it is important to stay abreast of the latest research and methods of treatment. No matter what specific disability you or your child is diagnosed with, there are ways to compensate for difficulties in learning. These tools are aptly called accommodations and focus on individual abilities rather than disabilities.

While there are no cures for learning disabilities, the right intervention and support can lead to success in school as well as work and career. This success comes from relying on strengths rather than the deficiencies. Many skill-building toys, games and videos are available for children as well as adults, teachers and healthcare professionals.

If you have a good understanding of the disability and the weaknesses you or your child must overcome, you have a good chance of successfully dealing with the learning disability. Continuously working closely with educators, therapists and doctors to learn new strategies and methods is your best bet to overcome the difficulties a learning disability can pose.

By Amy Holder           


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