LEARNING

DISABILITIES
Dr. Eric Taclawan

What is a learning disability?

LD is a neurological disorder that
affects the brains ability to:
Receive information
Process information
Store information
Respond to information
Communicate information

 Learning Disability
includes
Average or above
average intellectual
capacity
A significant and
unexplained discrepancy
between achievement
and expected potential

 Learning
Disability Is Not
The Same As
Intellectual
Disability Or
Emotional

 LD does not
include problems
primarily due to
visual, hearing, or
motor disabilities

 LD does not include

problems that
result primarily
from cultural,
environmental, or
economic

 LD is NOT ADHD
Although 1/3 of
individual with LD
also have ADHD

In other words...LD
means having trouble
Processing
information
Organizing
information
Applying information

Causes or Presumed causes of

Learning Disabilities

NO real causes
Might be caused by:
Hereditary
Teratogenic
Medical
Environmental

LD can affect the persons

ability in the areas of:

Listening
Spelling
Speaking Reasoning
Mathemati
Reading
cs
Writing

What can we do about learning

disabilities?

The first step is

to recognize
that a problem
might exist.

 Seek help from

qualified
professionals, who
can provide
guidance through a
personalized

Types of Learning
Disabilities

Dyslexia
Area of Difficulty: Processing
Language
Symptoms: Reading, Writing,
Spelling
Example
Confusing letter names and sounds
Difficulties blending sound into
words
Slow rate of reading

Dyscalculia
Area of Difficulty: Math Skills
Symptoms: Computation,
remembering math facts,
concepts of time an money
Example
Difficulty learning to count by 2s,
3s, and 4s
Poor mental math skills
Problems with special directions

Dysgraphia
Area of Difficulty: written
expression
Symptoms: handwriting, spelling,
composition
Example
Illegible handwriting
Difficulty organizing ideas for
writing

Dyspraxia
Area of Difficulty: Fine motor
skills
Symptoms: coordination,
manual dexterity
Example:
Trouble with scissors, buttons,
drawings

Information Processing
Disorder
Auditory Processing Disorder
Difficulty interpreting auditory
information
Trouble with language
development, reading
Difficulty anticipating how a
speaker will end a sentence

 Visual Processing
Disorder
Difficulty interpreting
visual information
Trouble with reading,
writing, and math
Difficulty distinguishing
letters like h and n

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF

LD

Preschool

Problems pronouncing
words?
Difficulty finding the
right word?
Difficulty making
rhymes?

 Trouble learning
numbers, alphabet,
days of the week,
colors and shapes?
Trouble
concentrating?
Trouble interacting

 Difficulty following
directions or learning
routines?
Difficulty controlling
pencil, crayons,
scissors?
Difficulty with buttoning,
zipping, tying skills?

K - 4th Grade Students

May be slow to learn the
connection between letters
and sounds.
Has difficulty decoding single
words (reading single words in
isolation). Has difficulty
spelling phonetically.

 Makes consistent reading

and spelling errors such
as:
Letter reversals - "d" for "b"
as in: "dog" for "bog"
Word reversals - "tip" for
"pit"
Inversions - "m" for "w," "u"
for "n"

 Substitutions "house" for "home

May confuse small
words - "at" for "to,"
"said" for "and,"
"does" for "goes."

 Relies on guessing and

context.
May have difficulty
learning new vocabulary.
May transpose number
sequences and confuse
arithmetic signs (+ - x /
=).

 May have trouble

remembering facts.
May be slow to learn new
skills; relies heavily on
memorizing without
understanding.
May have difficulty
planning, organizing and
managing time, materials

 Often uses an
awkward pencil grip
(fist, thumb hooked
over fingers, etc.).
May have poor "fine
motor" coordination.

5th - 8th Grade Students

Is usually reading below

grade level.
May reverse letter
sequences - "soiled" for
"solid," "left" for "felt."

 May be slow to discern and

to learn prefixes, suffixes,
root words, and other
reading and spelling
strategies.
May have difficulty
spelling; spells same word
differently on the same
page.

 May avoid reading

aloud.
May have trouble with
word problems in
math.
May have slow or
poor recall of facts.

 May write with

difficulty with illegible
handwriting; pencil
grip is awkward, fistlike or tight.
May avoid writing.

 May have difficulty

with written
composition.
May have difficulty
with comprehension.

 May have trouble with nonliteral language (idioms,

jokes, proverbs, slang).
May have difficulty with
planning, organizing and
managing time, materials
and tasks.

INSTRUCTIONAL IDEAS

Teachers may find the

following helpful:
breaking tasks into smaller
steps, and giving directions
verbally and in writing;
giving the student more
time to finish schoolwork or
take tests;

 letting the student with

reading problems use
textbooks-on-tape
letting the student with
listening difficulties
borrow notes from a
classmate or use a tape
recorder

 letting the student

with writing
difficulties use a
computer with
specialized software
that spell checks,
grammar checks, or

Teachers should:
Supporting learning with
visuals
Stressing step-by-step
instructions

For students with ADHD,

teachers should:
Give only one assignment at
a time.

ASSISTANCE DURING ASSESSMENTS:

The teacher may wish to:

Choose an alternate exam
site away from the general
education classroom.
Ensure that this alternate
locale is free from auditory
and visual distracters.

 Avoid confusing or
complicated language
and/or consider a substitute
exam/assessment.
Allow student extra time to
complete
exams/assignments,
especially if there are
unique demands regarding
reading and writing skills.

 Allow for alternate forms

of assessment
Portfolios
Slide presentations
Photographic essays
Taped interviews

Is there any treatment for

learning disabilities?

The most common treatment for

learning disabilities is special
education.
Speech and language therapists
also may be involved.
Medications to enhance attention
and concentration.
Psychological therapies may also
be used.

What is the prognosis for

learning disabilities?

Learning disabilities
can be lifelong
conditions

Thank You Very Much