Learning Disabilities
... When a significant discrepancy between overall cognitive ability and achievement exists, intelligence tests are utilized to determine ability in some academic areas, such as math, reading and writing. A process deficit is a person’s inability to properly process acquired information given out in a classroom environment. Uneven pattern of development can exist when that person may have reading comprehension problems but excels in arithmetic. Many people who classify mental retardation as being learning disabled child; they are incorrect with their presumptions. In order for a child to be declared learning disabled, no emotional disturbance or mental retardation may exist. Learning disabilities can be caused by several reasons. Although it is not clearly understood what causes a disability, some factors may include: slower maturity rate, nervous system disorder, sex, injuries during early childhood, premature birth, and inheritance through family line. Some children mature faster than others do. The result is having an uneven number of students with exactly the same academic level. Injuries that occur in early childhood can be a direct factor, such as if that child had a significant accident which head injuries occurred. Premature birth can also lead to learning problems in the future or the child. Learning disabilities are more common in boys than girls, possibly because lf the maturity rate of boys is slower. Another contributing factor is inheritance. If someone’s family tree has a learning disability, it is very possible it may be inherited down the family line. Learning disabilities can be classified into many different categories. Although too many categories may exist, it is easy to limit to a few. These difficulties include reading, oral language, written language, handwriting, math, attention (AD/HD), motor skills, and organization skills. Reading difficulties exist when a child has a difficulty identifying or generating rhyming words, or counting syllables in words, called phonological awareness. Another factor in reading is Difficulty distinguishing different sounds in words, called auditory discrimination. Oral language issues are difficulty following directions and difficulty acquiring vocabulary or using age appropriate grammar. Problems in written language can include difficulty putting ideas on paper and many spelling mistakes on assignments. Some learning disabled children have difficulty in handwriting or Dysgraphia. Difficulties in copying, messy organized papers and unsure of which hand to use, are common factors. Dyscalculia, an arithmetic inability, can include difficulty counting accurately difficulty retaining math vocabulary and/or concepts, and difficulty memorizing math facts. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, ADHD, is very common in recent times. Medical professionals often misdiagnose ADHD. Diagnosis for children, or adults may be due to some of the following: inattention, variable attention, easily di...