Learning disorder includes a heterogeneous group of disorders manifested by significant difficulties in the acquisition and use of reading (dyslexia), writing (dysgraphia), or mathematical (dyscalculia) abilities despite intact senses, normal intelligence, proper motivation, and adequate socio-cultural opportunity.
Having a learning disorder means that a child has difficulty in one or more areas of learning, even when overall intelligence or motivation is not affected. Symptoms of learning disorders are:
-Difficulty telling right from left
-Reversing letters, words, or numbers, after first or second grade
-Difficulties recognizing patterns or sorting items by size or shape
-Difficulty understanding and following instructions or staying organized
-Difficulty remembering what was just said or what was just read
-Lacking coordination when moving around
-Difficulty doing tasks with the hands, like writing, cutting, or drawing
-Difficulty understanding the concept of time
According to DSM-5, the diagnosis of a specific learning disorder includes the following symptoms:
1. During formal years at school, persistent difficulties in reading, writing, arithmetic, or mathematical reasoning skills can be identified by symptoms such as inaccurate or slow and effortful reading, poor written expression, difficulties remembering number facts, or inaccurate mathematical reasoning.
2. Current academic abilities must fall far short of the typical range of scores on linguistically and culturally relevant reading, writing, and arithmetic examinations. As a result, a dyslexic person must read with significant effort and not in the same way that a regular reader does.
3. Learning problems originate in the early years of schooling.
4. The individual’s difficulties must markedly impair academic success, occupational performance, or daily activities, and they must not be explained by developmental, neurological, sensory (vision or hearing), or motor disorders.
Examples of learning disorders include
1.Dyslexia – difficulty with reading
E.g
2.Dyscalculia – difficulty with math
E.g
3.Dysgraphia – difficulty with writing
E.g
4.Language processing disorder
5.Nonverbal learning disabilities
6.Visual perceptual disabilities
Language Processing Disorder (LPD) relates to the difficulties in processing of expressive language and/or receptive language. Non-verbal learning disability refers to problems in understanding nonverbal cues like facial expressions or body language. Visual processing disorder includes trouble drawing or copying, inability to detect differences in shapes or letters, and letter reversals.
The major causes of learning disabilities are inherited cause, genetic cause, neurobiological or brain injury, co-morbid disorders, environmental factors. They recognize autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as related disorders that impact learning, though not specific learning disorders.
Learning disorders can also be present with emotional or behavioral disorders, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or anxiety. The combination of problems can make it particularly hard for a child to succeed in school. Properly diagnosing each disorder is crucial, so that the child can get the right kind of help for each.
Treatment
They often need extra help and instruction that are specialized for them. Having a learning disorder can qualify a child for special education services in school. SLD could cause complications if not remedied earlier. Intense and focused instruction may in fact alter the brain activation profiles observed in children with SLD. Hence there is a need to advocate for intense and focused instruction in each of the affected academic domains. There are Accomodation and Modification based therapies.