Learning Disabilities: Know the Symptoms and Common Types

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Does your little one take more time to do written work? Do you find him/her struggling in school and the performance does not match the intellectual level? If yes, it signifies that your kid has a learning disability. Learning disabilities are lifelong conditions. It means it will continue throughout the lifespan of an individual, even if he/she learns to compensate for the struggle. 

Learning disabilities occur in different forms. They can affect individuals in various ways. There is no medical treatment or medicine available to improve LD. However, specialized assessment and interventions can help. Read further to know learning disabilities meaning and more.

What is a Learning Disability?

LD or a learning disability is a mental condition that prevents an individual from getting the same knowledge as others of the same age. It can be due to neurobiological or/and genetic factors that change the brain functioning in a way that affects the learning potential. 

These issues can interfere with basic learning skills like writing, reading, and math. They can also decline the high-level skills like planning of time, abstract reasoning, organization, etc. 

Signs of Learning Disabilities 

LDs may look different from one child to another. It is not always simple to detect learning disabilities. There is no single symptom you need to look for. But few symptoms are more common in different age groups. The following are the red flags associated with disabilities of learning.

1. Signs of Learning Disabilities – Preschool

• The problem of rhyming.
• Difficulty with zippers, tying shoes, buttons, or clicking pictures.
• Learning to control pencils, crayons, coloring within lines, and scissors. 
• An issue in hunting the appropriate word. 
• Difficulty in pronouncing words. 
• Trouble in adhering to the learning routine or directions. 
• Difficulty in learning the colors, numbers, weekdays, alphabets, or shapes.  

2. Signs of Learning Disabilities – Age from 5 to 9

• Fail to mix sounds to form words.
• Difficulty in learning basic math.
• Delay in learning new skills.
• Fail to spell words consistently.
• Difficulty in learning the relationship between sounds and letters.
• An issue in remembering sequences and telling time. 
• Confuses common words when reading something.

3. Signs of Learning Disabilities – Age 10 to 13

• Difficulty in handwriting.
• An issue in sticking to the instruction in the classroom.
• Problems in expressing thoughts audibly.
• An issue with open-ended test questions. 
• Word difficulties.
• Poor organizational skills. 
• Avoiding or disliking reading allowed and writing. 
• Spells the same word in a different way in one document.
• An issue with math skills or reading comprehension. 

Common Learning Disorders | Types of LD | Types of Learning Disabilities

The below checklist shows the most common types of learning disabilities or learning impairments:

1. Dyslexia

Did you know one out of five children is suffering from dyslexia? Reading disabilities are known as dyslexia. There is no cure for this neurological problem. But there are certain methods available that can make the everyday tasks of the patient much simpler. 

Dyslexia can run in families and affects each individual differently. Individuals can get signs of dyslexia at any age group. However, they usually occur during childhood. A few of the common signs of dyslexia include issues in understanding and using grammar and words. An issue in detecting sounds that go with the letters, difficulty in Rhyming, etc.

2. Dysgraphia

Dysgraphia refers to the difficulty in writing something. This learning disability is also called written expression disorder. Many professionals see the condition causing challenges with transcription skills. These include typing, handwriting, and spelling. 

When there is a transcription issue, it can hinder thinking about ideas and conveying them. For example, those dealing with dysgraphia may write slower, unlike others. Common symptoms of dysgraphia include avoiding writing tasks, speaking words loudly while writing, problems in planning thoughts when writing, etc. 

3. Dyscalculia

Dyscalculia is a term that refers to two types of disorders that affect the potential to learn and retain math skills. It impacts kids from the early age of schooling and onwards. This specialized learning disorder can present itself in many ways. It includes problems to understand the logical steps required to solve any math issue, failure to memorize number-based facts, difficulty in sensing directions, slow in solving time concepts and computing problems, difficulty to finish number-based everyday tasks, etc.  

4. Auditory Processing Disorder

Auditory processing disorder is also called central auditory processing disorder. This learning disorder makes it tough for the patient to hear things correctly. This affects him/her to spell and understand the basic concepts of writing and reading. For example, those with APD find it difficult to hear small sound differences in words.

5. Visual Processing Disorder 

Visual Processing Disorder means the inability to process visual information. It means this LD occurs when the brain finds it difficult to make sense of the visual input it gets. VPD is different from visual impairment. It can cause significant effects on math, motor, and reading comprehension skills. 

There are numerous kinds of Visual Processing Disorders. All have different signs. It includes failure to identify differences in letters or shapes, difficulty to copy or draw, reversing numbers or letters, skipping lines, etc. VPD can even affect life skills like sticking to directions, remembering phone numbers, etc. 

Learning Disabilities in Teens

Learning disabilities in teens are not uncommon. They usually find writing, reading, organization and remembering data more difficult. Their learning disability disorders can even have a significant impact on their behaviour, mood, and confidence levels. 

But nowadays, numerous resources and methods are available to help teenagers with learning disabilities succeed in school and career.

Learning Disabilities in Education

A learning disability can affect the potential of a student to:

• Use or understand written or spoken language.
• Coordinate movements.
• Perform calculations.
• Direct attention.

It also makes conventional learning methods more tough. Getting inclusive education is the best method to support these students and help them excel in academics. It means involving disabled students in an ordinary school environment. 

However, they stick to a particular curriculum. Even studies have shown students with disabilities accomplish excellent social integration and school results when studying in a mainstream environment. 

Special Education for Learning Disabilities

Special education and learning disabilities is a hot topic. Special education means well-trained teachers perform an in-depth evaluation of your kid’s potential and help him/her polish their key strengths.

Diverse special education options for children with learning disabilities include:

• Self-contained classroom or inclusion 
• Charter schools
• Supplemental learning (like special education tutoring)
• Private schools

Education Schemes for Disabled Students

In India, there are several education schemes from the Indian Government to support disabled students. 

Samagra Shiksha

This scheme includes special needs kids from 1 to 12 classes Under MHRD. It offers:

• Assistive devices
• ICT resources
• Appliances
• Stipend for special needs girls
• Identification and assessment camps
• Teaching-learning materials
• Scribe and escort allowances
• Transportation
• Provision of aids

RTE

The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act provides mandatory free elementary education for disabled students. According to the 2012 Amendment, this Govt. scheme ensures a kid with severe or multiple disabilities has a right to receive education at home.

FAQ’s

1. Learning Disability How to Help?

Your “support” can make a big difference in the life of your little one. Use the following strategies to help your kid with a learning disability:

Understand the Situation

Know what type of learning disability your kid is facing. It will help you better understand what to do next and how to assist.

Keep Communication Lines Open

Make sure you stay positive, and patient and keep communication with your little one open.

Focus on Strengths

Find out what your kid is good at and focus on them. It will increase their confidence level and stimulate motivation.

Create a Positive Learning Ambience

It is also crucial to ensure your kid has a well-lit and quiet area for better learning.

Encourage him/her to Live a Healthy Lifestyle 

Motivate your kid to eat a nutritious diet, get sufficient sleep and exercise daily. It will help him/her learn more quickly.

Offer Necessary Support and Tools 

to help your disabled child overcome challenges effectively, provide him/her with important resources and tools. But make sure you give concise and clear instructions.

Get Professional Assistance

Consult an occupational therapist or reading specialist near you. He/she will recommend new methods to help your child enhance their school outcome. 

Use Multisensory Teaching Techniques

Engaging multiple senses helps kids with learning disabilities learn better. For example, you can blend reading a book with audiobook listening.

Teach Organization Skills 

You can help your kid stay organized by teaching them the use of tools such as color-coding, lists and calendars.

Break Large Tasks into Small Parts

Try to break down large tasks into manageable ones.

2. Activities for Learning Disabilities Near Me

Here are a few great activities for kids with learning difficulties:

Match the Cards 

Match the cards activity includes arranging matching card face-down pairs randomly. It helps enhance focus, social skills and memory.

Snacks Sorting 

Snack sorting is a simple and entertaining activity for kids with learning disabilities. It can enhance their memory, focus, visual perception and logical thinking skills. You will require snacks of diverse shapes, types, sizes and shades. These include fruits, crackers, nuts, candies or cookies.

Colourful Ice 

This sensory activity includes freezing colourful water into ice cubes. When the kids play with them as they melt, they help them discover diverse textures, shapes and shades.

Create Structures Using Blocks

Creating structures using blocks is a great fun activity to do in groups or individually. They break repetitive behaviour and develop creativity, fine motor skills spatial awareness and problem-solving skills. For this activity, you can create structures using diverse blocks like foam, plastic or wood.

Create a Sensory Tub

A sensory tub is a container loaded with diverse materials to restore senses of smell, sight, sound, taste and touch. This activity allows children with language and speech delay and Autism to discover, learn and enjoy.

3. What is Mild Learning Disability?

It is a condition that causes difficulty in knowledge acquisition and understanding of complicated academic and language concepts.

ICD-11 (The International Classification of Diseases 11th Revision) classifies learning disabilities as “mild” which has a 50 – 69 IQ range. It can be tough to diagnose a mild learning disability because a person will typically combine well with others.

4. What Are the Pros of Special Education Programs for Students with Learning Disabilities?

These programs are a blend of individualized, special and differentiated instructions focusing on developing special interest skills and vocational-technical skills. They usually include:

• Adaptations to the curriculum.
• Guidance and career counselling programs.
• Academic interventions.
• Transition programs.
• Learning resource support.

Continuous effort – not strength or intelligence – is the key to unlocking our potential.

Winston Churchill

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