Types of Learning Disabilities: A Comprehensive Guide

Once a child is diagnosed with a learning disability, it becomes a lifelong condition that will need to be managed by their parents and educators. However, this doesn’t mean a child can’t still enjoy an equal and engaging education throughout their life.

In this guide, we will go into detail on the different types of learning disabilities and delve into the technology that’s currently available to aid with a positive learning experience.

What are Learning Disabilities?

Learning disabilities are linked to genetic or neurobiological factors that affect cognitive processes and change the way the brain functions. 

This change in brain function can make it difficult for a child to learn basic skills such as math and writing as easily as other children. Short-term memory, organization, reasoning, and attention may also be affected, which can have an impact on education as well as life in general. 

Learning disabilities should not be confused with intellectual disabilities, which affect a child’s ability to learn and function at a level that’s appropriate for their age. 

Unlike intellectual disabilities, learning disabilities are not linked to IQ levels but rather a child’s ability to master a specific skill as easily as others. 

Some of the most common signs of a learning disability include trouble writing, spelling, and reading, difficulty understanding math calculations as well as problems with memory and focus. 

What are the 7 Main Types of Learning Disabilities?

Let’s take a closer look at the main types of learning disabilities that a child could be diagnosed with.

1. ADHD

Also referred to as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, ADHD affects someone’s ability to focus and control their impulses. This common learning disability impacts children and adults of all ages, but the condition is most often diagnosed during childhood years. 

In a classroom setting, a child with ADHD may end up lagging in their learning because it’s difficult for them to focus. Distracting other children due to a lack of impulse control can be another issue. ADHD cannot be cured but it can be managed and treated.

Signs of ADHD in adults and children include an inability to sit still, difficulty keeping quiet, mood swings, forgetfulness, and a general lack of motivation. 

2. Dyslexia

Dyslexia, which impacts a person’s reading and language processing skills, is one of the world’s most common learning disabilities. The condition can’t be reversed but with the right tools, it’s possible to overcome its obstacles.

Some of the effects of dyslexia include difficulties with reading comprehension and spelling, reversing the position of letters, problems with auditory processing and phonological awareness, and delayed speech. 

3. Dyscalculia

This particular learning disability affects math skills in particular. A child with dyscalculia has a hard time understanding math concepts, solving mathematical problems, and performing calculations. And not just complex math either – even the most basic math concepts are next to impossible to understand. 

Signs that a child might be struggling with dyscalculia include difficulty with concepts such as measurements and time, an inability to understand and solve basic math problems, and issues with counting or grouping numbers. 

4. Dyspraxia

Some will argue that dyspraxia isn’t deemed to be a learning disability but because it doesn’t affect intellect levels, it fits into this category. Dyspraxia impacts someone’s ability to plan and coordinate movement, including actions such as writing, balance, coordination, and even tying shoelaces. Basically, it makes it difficult for a child to perform actions in a particular order. 

Poor hand-eye coordination is one of the signs of dyspraxia as are general learning difficulties. A combination of medical and educational assessments can determine whether a child has this condition. 

5. Dysgraphia

This learning disability makes it difficult for a person to write, which means their spelling, handwriting, and ability to form clear sentences will be affected. Dysgraphia can be caused by developmental delays as well as neurological conditions. 

Some of the signs that a child may have dysgraphia include untidy handwriting, taking too long to write and structure sentences, poor grammar, and difficulty organizing pages. 

6. Auditory & Visual Processing Disorders

A child with an auditory and visual processing disorder will find it difficult to process information based on sound and sight. The cause of this disorder could be genetic, but can also result from brain injuries such as a concussion. 

With an auditory and visual processing disorder, it’s hard to discern the sounds of letters and words, making writing and reading quite a tough task. Math concepts that cannot be visually represented will also be difficult to understand. 

All too often, this condition is misdiagnosed as ADHD because children have poor attention spans in both cases. 

7. Visual Motor Deficit

This is another learning disability that leads to poor hand-eye coordination. Children with a visual motor deficit will lose their places when reading and find it frustrating to work with glue, pencils, crayons, and scissors. 

While reading, letters that look similar will also be confusing and in some instances, a child will present with unusual eye activity. 

Technology that Helps with Different Types of Learning Disabilities

Thanks to assistive technology, the classroom doesn’t need to be a frustrating and demotivating environment for children with learning disabilities.

Here are some examples of the technology that is most commonly used:

Conclusion

Learning disabilities can be frustrating at first, but once diagnosed, you can move on to providing your child with the right emotional and technological support, changing their world for the better. 

Every child deserves the chance to learn and engage in a classroom in a way that works for them, something assistive technology, dedicated parents, and the right educators can help with. 

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