LEARNING
DISABILITIES:
What is a learning disability?
A learning disability (LD) is a neurological disorder that affects the
brain’s ability to receive, process, store and respond to information.
The term learning disability is used to describe the seeming
unexplained difficulty a person of at least average intelligence has
in acquiring basic academic skills. These skills are essential for
success at school and work, and for coping with life in general. LD is
not a single disorder. It is a term that refers to a group of
disorders. Language learning disabilities can affect a person’s
ability in the areas of listening, speaking, reading, writing, and
mathematics.
Currently, almost 2.9 million school-aged children in the US are
classified as having specific learning disabilities (SLD) and receive
some kind of special education support. They are approximately 5% of
all school-aged children in public schools.
Experts are not sure what causes learning disabilities. LD may be due
to heredity. Often learning disabilities run in the family, so it’s
not uncommon to find that people with LD have parents or other
relatives with similar difficulties. LD may also be caused by illness
or injury during or before birth. It may also be caused by drug or
alcohol use during pregnancy, low birth weight, lack of oxygen and
premature or prolonged labor. Last, head injuries, nutritional
deprivation and exposure to toxic substances can
contribute to LD.
What types of disabilities are there? (Specifically-Language)
The most common learning disability is difficulty with language and
reading. Language is not only the basis for functional, competent
communication, but it is also the foundation of learning academics.
Many children and adults go through life with this “hidden challenge
in learning”. The resulting problems can lead to poor self esteem,
failure to thrive in school, and difficulty in the workplace. Speech
and language problems are often the earliest indicators of a learning
disability. People with developmental speech and language disorders
have difficulty producing speech sounds, using spoken language to
communicate, or understanding what other people say. Depending on the
problem, the specific diagnosis may be articulation disorder,
expressive language disorder, or receptive language disorder. Children
with articulation disorders may lag behind playmates in learning to
make speech sounds. Children with expressive language difficulties can
take many forms, including the limited use of verbal language and
limited vocabulary development. Children with receptive language
challenges have trouble understanding certain aspects of language.
Their hearing is fine, but they can’t make sense of certain sounds,
words, or sentences they hear. They may seem inattentive.
Children with only speech
delays, articulation disorders, or language delays usually do
not end up with a diagnosis of Learning Disabilities.
With appropriate speech and language therapy, these children will
most likely catch up with their peers.
Signs of a disability
Children reach certain “milestones” of development: the first word,
the first step, and so forth. Doctors and parents are watching for
these developmental milestones. Learning disorders may be informally
flagged by observing significant delays in the child’s skill
development. There are several indications that a child may be
suffering from LD. Late talking, pronunciation problems, slow
vocabulary growth, difficulty rhyming words, trouble learning numbers,
extreme restlessness, trouble interacting with peers, and a poor
ability to follow directions are clues that a child may have a LD.
What are the solutions?
Learning disabilities are lifelong, although they don’t have to stop a
person from achieving goals. Help is available if problems are
identified. The process begins when someone (school staff, parents,
etc) makes a referral for an initial evaluation. During the
evaluation, a team of qualified professionals will review the results
of the evaluation and determine if the child is eligible for special
education services. If the child is eligible for services, an
Individualized Education Program (IEP) is developed. An IEP is a
written agreement between the parents and the school about what the
child needs and what will be done to address those needs.
Benefits of Speech Language Pathologists
Speech language pathologists help people who have problems with
communication and swallowing. They help people of all ages and also
offer support to family members and caregivers. |
