Scribd
Upload
76 views2 pages

Learning Disorder

Learning disorders are significant and persistent difficulties in acquiring academic skills, affecting 2-10% of the population, with a higher prevalence in males. The main types include dyslexia (reading impairment), dysgraphia (writing impairment), and dyscalculia (arithmetic impairment), with various causes such as family history and exposure to toxins. Treatment typically involves special education services and individualized education programs.

Uploaded by

toperligo47
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
76 views2 pages

Learning Disorder

Learning disorders are significant and persistent difficulties in acquiring academic skills, affecting 2-10% of the population, with a higher prevalence in males. The main types include dyslexia (reading impairment), dysgraphia (writing impairment), and dyscalculia (arithmetic impairment), with various causes such as family history and exposure to toxins. Treatment typically involves special education services and individualized education programs.

Uploaded by

toperligo47
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

LEARNING DISORDER

Definition

The 11th Edition of the International Classification of Diseases and Related


Health Problems (ICD-11,2018) notes that a developmental learning
disorder is characterized by significant and persistent difficulties in learning
academic skills which may include reading, writing, or arithmetic.

Prevalence

Learning disorders are common in children and adolescents. About 2-10% of the
population and more than 10% of school children have significant academic
difficulties. Learning disorders are reported to be four times more common in
males than females. Reading disorders constitute the greatest proportion of
children identified with learning disabilities, probably 80-90%.

Types of Learning disorder

1. Impairment in reading
It is also called “Dyslexia”. According to DSM-IV-TR, reading disorder is
reading achievement below the expected level of a child’s age, education,
and intelligence with the impairment interfering significantly with academic
success or the daily activities that involve reading. It is characterized by a:
i. Slow acquisition of reading skills
ii. Slow reading speeds
iii. Impaired comprehension
iv. Long hesitation
v. Letter reversals
2. Impairment in written expression (Dysgraphia): It is a significant
impairment in writing skills, such as spelling accuracy, grammar and
punctuation accuracy, organization, and cohesion of ideas in writing in the
absence of a history of specific reading disorder. The ability to spell orally
and to write out words correctly is affected.
3. Specific Arithmetic Disorders (Dyscalculia) involve a deficit in basic
computational skills of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. It
is characterized by:
i. Failure to understand simple mathematical concepts
ii. Failure to recognize mathematical signs or numerical symbols
iii. Difficulties in learning mathematical tables.

Causes

 Family history
 Exposure to alcohol and drugs during antenatal period
 Emotional abuse of the child
 Head injury, neurological disorders
 Exposure to poisonous substances such as exposure to high levels of lead or
other toxins

Symptoms of learning disorder

 Not being able to master skills in reading, spelling, writing or math at or


near the expected age and grade levels
 Trouble completing homework and assignments on time
 Difficulty remembering what was just said or read
 Difficulty in writing, drawing and understanding concepts
 Children may feel frustrated that they cannot master subject despite trying
hard.
 May feel helpless and withdraw
 These disorders can also be present with emotional or behavioral disorders
such as ADHD or anxiety and depression

Treatment

 Special education services


 Individualized education program

You might also like