What is a learning disability?
Learning disabilities are disorders that affect the ability to understand or use spoken or written language, do mathematical calculations, coordinate movements, or direct attention. Although learning disabilities occur in very young children, the disorders are usually not recognized until the child reaches school age.
What is an example of a learning disability?
Learning disabilities such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder can frustrate students, confound parents and challenge educators.
What causes learning disability?
It is thought that learning disabilities may be caused by hereditary, teratogenic factors (for instance, alcohol or cocaine use during pregnancy), medical factors (premature birth, diabetes, meningitis of mother or offspring), and/or environmental factors (malnutrition, poor prenatal healthcare).
How does WHO define learning disabilities?
Intellectual disability means a significantly reduced ability to understand new or complex information and to learn and apply new skills (impaired intelligence). This results in a reduced ability to cope independently (impaired social functioning), and begins before adulthood, with a lasting effect on development.
What are learning difficulties?
A Learning Difficulty is a type of Special Education Needs, which affects areas of learning, such as reading, writing, spelling, mathematics etc. There are several levels of Learning Difficulties, such as: Specific Learning Difficulty – a particular difficulty in learning to read, write, spell etc.
What are signs of a learning disability?
Common signs that a person may have learning disabilities include the following:
- Problems reading and/or writing.
- Problems with math.
- Poor memory.
- Problems paying attention.
- Trouble following directions.
- Clumsiness.
- Trouble telling time.
- Problems staying organized.