Learning Disability in Children

What Is a Learning Disability?

Learning disability is a term used to describe a range of learning and thinking differences. These differences can affect the way the brain takes in, uses, stores, and sends out information.
Some children have specific learning disabilities (also known as LDs), such as reading or math disabilities. Others may have conditions that affect learning like attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Many children with learning differences and difficulties can have more than one learning disability or condition that affects learning.
A child with LD has problems with reading, spelling, and writing. These are language problems. Early speech and language problems can lead to later reading and writing problems. A child with LD may also have problems with math or social skills. LD has nothing to do with how smart your child is. Most people with LD have normal to above-average intelligence. Some children may have conditions that affect learning like attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
You may hear people say they have dyslexia. People with dyslexia have problems reading. Many children with reading problems have other language problems. This makes LD a better term to use. Other terms you may hear are language-based learning disabilities or specific learning disorders.

Causes

Learning disabilities are a brain disorder. Most children have LD from birth. They may have family members with LD.

Signs

A child with LD may have problems:

• Talking about their ideas. It may seem like the words they need are on the tip of the tongue but won’t come out. They might use vague words like “thing” or “stuff” and may pause to remember words.
• Learning new words that they hear in class or see in books
• Understanding questions and following directions
• Remembering numbers in order, like in a phone number
• Remembering the details of a story plot or what the teacher says
• Understanding what they read
• Learning words to songs and rhymes
• Telling left from right. This can make it hard to read and write
• Learning the alphabet and numbers
• Matching sounds to letters. This makes it hard to learn to read
• Writing (they may mix up the order of letters in words while writing)
• Spelling
• Doing math (they may mix up the order of numbers)
• Memorizing times tables
• Telling time

The Speech Therapist will assess your child’s learning skills and also test your child’s speech, language, and thinking skills. Thinking skills include planning, organizing, and paying attention to details.
Treatment will depend on what your child needs. Our team will work on what your child learns in class. We will work with your child’s teacher to help your child in class. This may include changing lessons to help your child understand them. Our Speech Therapist can help your child find ways to organize and focus on their work. Your child should get help with LD as early as possible. Talk to our clinic if you have concerns about your child’s learning skills.