Learning disabilities affect about 15 percent of the population, and can have a profound impact on individuals and families. People with learning disabilities are just as smart (and sometimes smarter) than their peers, but have difficulty learning in conventional school settings. Understand more about learning disabilities, discover how to overcome obstacles, and learn how to uncover hidden aptitudes and gifts.
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This comprehensive new report by the National Center for Learning Disabilities provides benchmark data on the number of people in the U.S. with LD and how they are faring in schools, universities, and workplaces.
Thomas West builds a case for the scientific study of gifts and talents thought to be associated with dyslexia. Such research would supplement the current research on correcting deficits, by discovering ways to maximize talents to overcome these deficits.
For the past ten years I have been working with college students who have ADHD, dyslexia and other specific learning disabilities. While the learning and thinking differences of my students often provide them with challenges and cause frustration, I have also come to appreciate the many positive facets of these differences.
LD OnLine is sharing the positive side of learning disabilities. Learning disabilities, attention deficit disorder, dyslexia, and other challenges can often present possibilities for personal growth and achievement.
The learning disabilities gives a brief history of learning disabilities — from 1877 when the term "word blindness" was invented to 2005 when a gene was discovered that is connected with dyslexia.
Sensory integration is a theory that explains why children respond in a certain way to touch, sounds, and other senses. Some children have sensory integration dysfunction, which influences their behavior. Learn about this disorder and how to treat it.
John Wills Lloyd, who has been at the University of Virginia's Curry School since 1978, began his career teaching children with learning and behavior problems in southern California in the 1960s. He completed Ph.D. studies at the University of Oregon in 1976. His research focuses on improving students' outcomes. Below John writes about subtyping LD. You can follow all of John's posts at LD Blog.
If your child or student is a "poor" listener, frequently misunderstands speech, and has difficulty following directions, read this article. Learn symptoms of Central Auditory Processing Disorder, how it is diagnosed, and what can be done about it.
As parents you are familiar with the term learning disability. Yet, it seems that there are so many types, and each educator or other professional you work with uses different terms or ways to describe your son or daughter. The following outline might be helpful in putting these terms and concepts in perspective.
Many parents and educational professionals confuse ADHD and LD. Is ADHD a form of LD? No. Each is distinctive neurologically-based disorder. Each is recognized and diagnosed differently. Each is treated in a different way. The treatment for ADHD will not correct an LD. The treatment for LD will not help ADHD. Of importance is that about 30 to 40% of individuals with LD will also have ADHD. Thus, if you find one problem it is important to look for the other.
If you think your child might have a learning disability, this article can help. With early intervention, children with learning disabilities can learn strategies to achieve as well as other children do. Organizing information about your child will help you to monitor progress. This information will be valuable in planning for your child.
Many professionals are involved in the diagnosis of LD: psychologists, educational specialists, and other professionals who work in specialized fields such as speech and language. This article identifies licensure requirements and who can diagnose LD and/or ADHD.
About 10 million children have difficulties learning to read. Children with reading difficulties stop and start frequently, mispronouncing some words and skipping others entirely. In the later grades, when children switch from learning to read to reading to learn, reading-impaired children are kept from exploring science, history, literature, mathematics and the wealth of information that is presented in print.
Learn from an expert why some kids with learning disabilities struggle with writing and how some instructional approaches can help.