A group of health conditions that negatively affect the child’s ability to take in and use information is called learning disabilities (disorders). Generally, there are multiple types of this disorder, including dyslexia, nonverbal learning disorders, and others. In any case, these disorders are treatable.
In other words, learning disabilities (LDs) are conditions that impact the brain’s ability to process information. It may include how a person acquires, retains, organizes, understands, and uses information. Furthermore, these disorders can also involve verbal and non-verbal information.
It is important to understand that learning disabilities do not affect intelligence and are different from intellectual disabilities. For instance, people who suffer from LDs have problems with learning, but also have an average or above-average IQ. Most of the time, LDs are identified early in school, but in rare cases, they may not be identified until adolescence or even adulthood.
Generally, LDs happen commonly, and according to some research, they affect about 10% of people in the U.S. Approximately 5% of school-aged children have LDs worldwide. The most common type of LDs is dyslexia, which accounts for about 80% of all diagnosed cases.
Is There a Difference between a Learning Disability and a Learning Disorder?
There are a lot of people who use these medical terms interchangeably, but there are some differences between them. Examples include:
- Learning disorder – This medical term is usually used by a healthcare professional (such as a psychologist) to describe a learning disorder based on certain criteria listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).
- Learning disability – This is a legal term that is used to identify a student with a learning disability based on multiple documents and assessments. It also results in legal rights (including the right to an individualized education plan, also called an IEP).
Types of Specific Learning Disorders
Generally, the medical term specific learning disorders is used in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders to characterize neurodevelopmental disorders that involve difficulties in one of the following areas. These include reading, writing, and math. Check some examples of specific learning disorders below:
- Dyslexia (also known as a reading disability) – This type of LD makes language-related tasks (such as reading) harder. It often happens due to disruptions in specific parts of the brain responsible for processing written words. People who suffer from this condition often look like they have problems with spelling simple words, learning the names of letters, rhyming, sounding out new words, and others.
- Dysgraphia – This type of LD often affects the written language despite constant exposure to adequate instruction and education. Usually, it looks like a person has problems with handwriting legibility, spelling, and holding a pencil in the correct position.
- Dyscalculia – It negatively affects the ability to understand math (including number-based information). Commonly, people who develop it look like they have problems with counting upwards, doing simple calculations, organizing math problems, and others.
Nonverbal Learning Disorders
These conditions often affect activities that do not involve words or speech. For example, problem-solving, visual-spatial tasks, and recognizing social cues. Nowadays, the DSM-5 does not recognize nonverbal DLs as a type of specific learning disorder. However, according to some research, approximately 5% of people with LDs have cognitive and academic difficulties that are associated with nonverbal LDs. Mostly, nonverbal learning disorders affect:
- Executive functioning (including emotional regulation, organizing, and planning)
- Visual-spatial awareness (such as coordination and balance)
- Math skills
- Social abilities (for example, social language or understanding facial expressions)
What Are The Symptoms of a Learning Disorder?
The primary sign of a learning disability is when a person has differences between their academic potential and academic performance. Sometimes, children may develop a severe form of learning disability at an early age, but most of the time, they are mild to moderate until school age. A severe form of learning disabilities may not be diagnosed until your child is going to school. Typically, learning disorder symptoms include problems with:
- Memory (including both short-term and long-term)
- Legibility of their handwriting
- Retelling a story
- Staying on task
- Rhyming
- Expanding vocabulary
- Counting
- Founding letters, numbers, colors, or math symbols
- Coordination
- Following directions
- Abstracting, reasoning, organizing information, and others
The previous list does not contain a full list of symptoms, and they are not enough to diagnose a person with a learning disorder. Visit a doctor if your child has any of these symptoms appear, for a diagnosis and proper treatment.
Behavioral Symptoms
In most cases, learning disabilities impact the child’s self-esteem and how they feel about school. They may also feel frustrated because their performance is lower compared to their peers. Check below for some behaviors that may also indicate a learning disorder:
- Avoiding assignments
- Mood swings
- Temper tantrums
- Self-critical statements (such as “I’m stupid”)
- Complaining about their teacher or blaming teachers
- Not wanting to go to school, to read out loud, to do mathematical problems, and others
If your child has any of the previous symptoms, it is important to see a doctor.
Causes and Risk Factors
Nowadays, researchers continue to study learning disabilities and their causes. However, experts think LDs happen due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. You should also know that learning disabilities do not appear from physical sensory problems (such as low vision or hearing loss). While anyone can develop a learning disability, doctors have identified some factors that could increase the risk even more. Check some risk factors below:
- Premature birth
- Malnutrition
- Fetal exposure to alcohol and other substances
- ACEs (adverse childhood experiences)
- TBI (traumatic brain injury)
- Medical history of a speech or language developmental delay
- A family history of LDs – If you have a sibling or parent with a learning disability, your risk of developing one significantly increases.
- Prolonged exposure to toxins (including lead)
In addition, LDs may happen along with other disorders. According to some research, approximately 45% of children with LDs also have another psychiatric disorder. Examples include:
- ODD (oppositional defiant disorder)
- OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder)
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Bipolar disorder
- ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder)
What Are The Possible Complications of Learning Disabilities?
Those who develop a learning disability may also experience the following complications, especially if the disorder is left untreated. Check some examples below:
- Emotional and mental health problems (including anxiety, low self-esteem, depression, and others)
- Behavioral issues (such as school avoidance, complete shutdown, frustration, and others)
- Social problems
- Problems with reading, writing, and math
- ADHD
- Emotional regulation difficulties
- Tic disorders
- Developmental coordination disorder (also known as dysgraphia)
This document does not contain a full list of complications. In any case, doctors are often able to reduce the risk or even prevent them. Unfortunately, there is no way to prevent learning disorders.
Diagnosis
Most of the time, caregivers and teachers suspect a learning disability once the child is in school. In any case, children should go through special assessments and tests to confirm or rule out this condition. Usually, learning disorders are diagnosed by psychologists. Generally, a psychological diagnosis and a legal identification per the Individuals with Disabilities Education ACT (IDEA) are different. It often includes assessments, interviews, observations, medical and family history, school reports, and others. Check below some tests often performed by doctors to confirm or exclude a learning disorder:
- Medical evaluation – Doctors usually start the diagnosis with a physical and neurological examination to check for an underlying disorder. Moreover, they may also perform blood tests or imaging tests to get more details about different structures and organs in the body.
- Education assessment and performance evaluation – Commonly, teachers will monitor the child’s behavior and assess their academic performance. For example, reading, writing, math skills, and others.
- Cognitive evaluation – It often includes nonverbal and verbal intelligence (IQ) testing.
- Psychological evaluation – During this test, psychologists will check for ADHD, oppositional defiant disorder, anxiety disorders, depression, and confidence problems. These conditions often happen along with a learning disorder.
- Neuropsychological assessment – This procedure involves testing for brain disorders that may negatively affect the child’s behavior and cognitive skills.
Treatment
Commonly, children with learning disorders need a healthcare team that includes educators, psychologists, occupational and physical therapists, educational remediation specialists, and others. Usually, the educational interventions involve the following levels, including accommodation, modification, and remediation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do learning disabilities last?
These conditions cannot be cured. That’s why the treatment goal is to ease the symptoms, prevent serious complications, and improve your child’s quality of life.
What are the most common specific learning disabilities?
Examples include dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, auditory processing disorder, language processing disorder, nonverbal learning disabilities, and visual perception/visual motor deficit. For more details, discuss it with your physician.
What is the cause of nonverbal learning disorders?
While doctors do not fully understand what causes it, they believe they happen due to dysfunctional development in the brain’s right hemisphere. Normally, this part of the brain is responsible for processing spatial, visual, and nonverbal information. Ask your healthcare provider if you have additional questions.
