Learning Disabilities
According to the National Joint Committee on
Learning Disabilities (NJCLD), "Learning
disabilities is a general term that refers to
a heterogeneous group of disorders manifested
by significant difficulties in the acquisition
and use of listening, speaking, reading, writing,
reasoning, or mathematical skills. These disorders
are intrinsic to the individual and presumed to
be due to a central nervous system dysfunction,
and may occur across the life span. Problems in
self-regulatory behaviors, social perception,
and social interaction may exist with the learning
disabilities but do not, by themselves, constitute
a learning disability. Although learning disabilities
may occur concomitantly with other disabilities
(e.g., sensory impairment, mental retardation,
serious emotional disturbance), or with extrinsic
influences (such as cultural differences, insufficient
or inappropriate instruction), they are not the
result of those conditions or influences."
Learning disabilities are disorders that affects
people's ability to either interpret what they
see and hear or to link information from different
parts of the brain. These limitations can show
up in many ways. Specific difficulties are with
spoken and written language, coordination, self
control, or attention (ADD, ADHD). Such difficulties
extend to schoolwork and can impede learning to
read, write, or do math. These disabilities may
also contribute to behavioral problems, the inability
to concentrate on or complete a given task. Learning
disability for short is also called LD.
Learning disabilities Usually
Affect One or More Areas
- Spoken language
- Written language
- Arithmetic
- Reasoning
- Memory
Learning Disabilities - Prevalency
Experts estimate that 6 to 10 percent of the
school-aged population in the United States is
learning disabled. Nearly 40 percent of the children
enrolled in the nation's special education classes
suffer from a learning disability. The Foundation
for Children With Learning Disabilities estimates
that there are 6 million adults with learning
disabilities as well.
Learning Disabilities - Causes
- Little is currently known about the causes
of learning disabilities. Here are some general
observations:
- Some children develop and mature at a slower
rate than others in the same age group. As a
result, they may not be able to do the expected
school work. This kind of learning disability
is called "maturational lag."
- Some children with normal vision and hearing
may misinterpret everyday sights and sounds
because of some unexplained disorder of the
nervous system.
- Injuries before birth or in early childhood
probably account for some later learning problems.
- Children born prematurely and children who
had medical problems soon after birth sometimes
have learning disabilities.
- Learning disabilities tend to run in families,
so some learning disabilities may be inherited.
- Learning disabilities are more common in boys
than girls, possibly because boys tend to mature
more slowly.
- Some learning disabilities appear to be linked
to the irregular spelling, pronunciation, and
structure of the English language. The incidence
of learning disabilities is lower in Spanish
or Italian speaking countries.
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