Specific learning disorder

Share on Pinterest d3sign/Getty Images Both children and adults can live with a learning disorder, although they may manifest in different ways. It’s estimated that In either case, symptoms of learning disorders can be managed with the help of a trained professional. Progress is usually achieved when you work with it, not against it. A learning disorder is a neurodevelopmental condition that impacts how you perceive and process information. It could make learning a skill very challenging. It affects the way you learn, but not your overall capacity to learn. There are many types of learning disorders, and symptoms can sometimes overlap. You could also live with more than one disorder simultaneously. Learning disorders typically manifest as persistent challenges, of various severity levels, in three learning areas: • reading • writing • math These disorders can also affect different aspects of development, like speaking, attention, and movement. In children, learning challenges usually show up as below-average academic performance for their group age. If performance reaches average, it’s only after extensive and determined effort and support. In adults, learning disorders show as persistent difficulty in completing tasks related to reading, writing, and math. An extensive and comprehensive evaluation is required to diagnose a learning disorder. It usually happens after the person starts formal education, but a learning disorder can be diagnosed at any time during childhood, ...

DSM-V: Specific Learning Disorders Fact Sheet Source: http://www.dsm5.org/Documents/Specific%20Learning%20Disorder%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf The upcoming fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) takes a different approach to learning disorders than previous editions of the manual by broadening the category to increase diagnostic accuracy and effectively target care. Specific learning disorder is now a single, overall diagnosis, incorporating deficits that impact academic achievement. Rather than limiting learning disorders to diagnoses particular to reading, mathematics and written expression, the criteria describe shortcomings in general academic skills and provide detailed specifiers for the areas of reading, mathematics, and written expression. Characteristics of Specific Learning Disorder Specific learning disorder is diagnosed through a clinical review of the individual’s developmental, medical, educational, and family history, reports of test scores and teacher observations, and response to academic interventions. The diagnosis requires persistent difficulties in reading, writing, arithmetic, or mathematical reasoning skills during formal years of schooling. Symptoms may include inaccurate or slow and effortful reading, poor written expression that lacks clarity, difficulties remembering number facts, or inaccurate mathematical reasoning. Current academic skills must be well below the average range of scores in culturally and lingui...

Learning disorder Learning disability Main use Diagnosis Legal rights Where it’s defined Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Orders (DSM) This is the handbook used by licensed professionals, like medical doctors and psychologists, to diagnose conditions. This is U.S. special education law. Learning disability also is covered by the definition of “disability” in other laws. For example, the Americans with Disabilities Act. How the term is applied Only a licensed professional can diagnose a person with a learning disorder. Usually, the professional is a psychologist. A person can be identified with a learning disability in a few ways. A K–12 public school may identify a student with a learning disability through an evaluation. A college may identify students with a learning disability after they submit documentation. There are also other areas where the term might be used. For example, within government agencies and private companies. Criteria To diagnose a learning disorder, the DSM requires four criteria: • Difficulties for at least six months with reading, writing, or math, despite targeted help • Academic skills well below what’s expected for the person’s age (and that cause problems in school, work, or everyday activities) • Difficulties that start during school age • Difficulties not caused by other conditions — like intellectual disability, vision or hearing problems, poverty, learning a newlanguage, or lack of instruction To identify a learning disability, K–...

• Home • Contents • Introduction • Learning Difficulties vs. Specific Learning Disabilities • Specific Learning Difficulties (SLDs) • Specific learning disorder with impairment in reading – dyslexia • Specific learning disorder with impairment in written expression • Specific learning disorder with impairment in mathematics – Dyscalculia • Other developmental disorders that can impact on learning • Developmental language disorder (DLD) • Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) • Identifying and Diagnosing SLDs • Importance of early identification • Who can diagnose a specific learning disorder? • How is a specific learning disorder diagnosed? • Diagnostic criteria for specific learning disorder diagnosis • The Response to Intervention (RTI) model • What to do next: A decision making chart for parents • Intervention • Can intervention ‘cure’ a learning disability? • What does the research tell us about different interventions? • Individual Education Plans (IEPs) explained • Assistive Technology • What is assistive technology? • What are some examples of assistive technology? • The Role of Parents • Helping to improve the learning outcomes of all students • Effective communication between home and school • The rights of students with learning disabilities in the education system • What to look for in the school setting • Explaining a specific learning disorder diagnosis to your child • Is a learning disability a gift? • Self-esteem • Recognising and supporting children wit...

Created on August 5, 2017. Last updated on March 7th, 2020 at 05:11 pm Children and teens with a specific learning disorder are often quite bright, capable individuals who otherwise have difficulties learning and using specific academic skills. They typically struggle with impairment in one or more academic areas, like reading, written expression, and/or mathematics. Difficulties may include inaccurate or slow/effortful word reading, difficulty understanding the meaning of what is read, difficulty spelling, difficulty expressing ideas through writing, difficulties mastering number facts or calculations, and/or difficulty with mathematical reasoning. These difficulties are generally reflected in academic skills and achievement that is usually well-below what would be expected based on age and overall intelligence. Specific learning disabilities often become apparent during the elementary school years and can persist into adulthood. Again, it is important to note that specific learning disabilities are not reflective of overall intelligence or ability, but rather, difficulty learning or using a specific academic skill-set. Of note, some practitioners and school systems continue to refer to specific learning disorder with impairment in reading as “dyslexia” or to specific learning disorder with impairment in mathematics as “dyscalculia.” Identification and Effective Therapies Parents or school personnel may notice that a child is having difficulty with a particular academic s...