Learning disability is a disorder that lasts throughout a person’s life and has no cure. It prohibits a person from acquiring a new skill and comprehending complex information, further hampering their ability to be self-reliant and use their skills productively.
If recognized early, interventions can be more effective, and the person affected need not face extended problems or go through low self-esteem later in life. For early identification, however, it is necessary to have a general awareness of the disability and its types.
What Learning Disability Is.
A Learning Disability (LD) is a neurological condition resulting from neurobiological factors and genetics, affecting the brain’s capability to process information and execute functions. It is to be considered that a learning disability is not an intellectual disability, vision problem, hearing loss, emotional or behavioral disturbance but instead more of learning and acquiring a skill and using it effectively.
The learning disabilities may be in mathematics, reading, or oral or written language, and it is commonly identified at an early age however, in some cases, it may not be identified until adulthood or at later life. According to the National Adult Literacy and Learning Disabilities Center, “ nearly 60% of adults with severe literacy problems have undetected or untreated learning disabilities”. The severity and characteristics of LD can vary from person to person.
Causes Of Learning Disability
A learning disability can be caused by many factors. It can be due to some prenatal issues or difficulties faced during birth or due to genetics. Apart from that, diseases or other similar conditions such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, Epilepsy, Meningitis, age, or traumatic brain injuries are the chief causes for developing a learning disability.
Treatments For Learning Disability
Presently, there is no definite medication or medical treatment available to treat learning disabilities. However, the Learning Disability Treatment Landscape is evolving with the emergence of Digital Assistant Technologies.
Level Of Severities In Learning Disability
In severe cases, the person experiences difficulties in many academic fields, and the person needs rigorous specialized teaching to overcome these.
In average cases, the person might experience difficulties in learning more than two academic subjects, while in mild cases, the person may have hardships in learning one or two academic areas only.
Learning Disabilities Types
Dysgraphia - Dysgraphia is more prominent in males than in females. In this type, the affected person finds it challenging to put their thoughts on paper or drawing. Most people with dysgraphia are unaware that they are affected by it.
Dyslexia - This is the most common type of learning disability. It is related to acquiring and processing language. The affected person may face challenges in reading, accurate and fluent word recognition, writing, and understanding literature.
Dyscalculia - Dyscalculia is a disability associated with mathematical calculations. The affected person finds difficulties in learning numbers, using concepts, using mathematical symbols, using mathematical functions and facts, and reasoning.
Nonverbal learning disabilities - These disabilities are classified into three segments - social abilities, visual-spatial organizational memory, and motor skills. Here, the affected person finds difficulties in decoding nonverbal behaviors or social cues. The person may also struggle with understanding facial expression and voice tone, body language, and have poor coordination skills.
Auditory processing disorder - APD is also referred to as Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD). It is closely linked to dyslexia as approximately 50% of children with dyslexia also have APD. The affected person faces difficulties in recognizing the correct order of sounds, processing sounds, or is unable to filter different sounds.
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