Concept of Learning Disabilities

Children With Developmental Challenges 3(2+1)

Lesson 28 : Children Specific Learning Disabilities

Concept of Learning Disabilities

Children with learning disabilities do not look handicapped and hence a learning disability is referred to as a hidden disability. Since their difficulties are not obvious, learning disabled children are often misunderstood and accused of not listening, being lazy or clumsy, resulting in low self esteem, confidence and motivation. When a child displays an educationally significant discrepancy between his/her estimated intellectual potential and actual school performance that cannot be explained in terms of intellectual potential, he/she may have a learning disability (LD). These children may have a combination of difficulties in speaking, listening, reading, reading comprehension, spelling, arithmetic calculations, writing and concepts. Children with a learning disability have average and sometimes above average intelligence. According to Indian Standards, their intelligence quotient should be 85 and above.

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Definition:

Learning disabilities are neurologically based conditions that interfere with the acquisition, storage, organization, and use of skills and knowledge. They are identified by deficits in academic functioning and in processing memory, auditory, visual, and linguistic information. It is a disorder in one or more basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using language, spoken or written, which disorder may manifest itself in imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell or do mathematical calculations.

Having trouble in:

  • Processing information
  • Organizing information
  • Applying information

Causes of Learning Disabilities

  • No real causes
  • Might be caused by:
    • Hereditary
    • Teratogenic
    • Medical
  • Environmental
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Last modified: Tuesday, 17 April 2012, 9:56 AM