Learning Disabilities - A Definition
Learning Disabilities are actually a number of disorders. These can affect taking in, organizing, remembering, understanding, or using information. The information can be verbal as well as nonverbal.
Individuals with learning disabilities have average to above average intelligence, but their ability to learn is affected by their disorders. Learning disabilities are a result of impairments to the ability to perceive, think, remember or learn. Many things from planning and decision making, to language processing, memory, and attention can be affected. There are several more areas where impairment may occur.
There can be mild to severe Learning Disabilities. They can interfere with the ability to handle oral language, reading, written language, and mathematics. Also affected are things like organizational skills and social interactions.
Although the way that Learning Disabilities show themselves may change at various ages, this is a life-long condition. Signs often are noticed when a person needs to put in tremendous amounts of effort to keep up achievement at school or work. On the other hand, they can also show up as unexpected or unexplained under-achievement.
A Learning Disability can result from genetics, some type of developmental factor, or an injury that changes the brain’s functions. These disabilities can coexist with other conditions like attentional or behavioral disorders, or medical conditions.
Individuals with Learning Disabilities will succeed. Factors such as early detection, specialized assessments, and interventions in the individual’s usual settings, are extremely important in this success. Interventions tailored to the individual’s unique needs can include specific skill instruction, strategies to compensate, skills for advocating for ones’ self, and physical or technological accomodations.
To see the formal definition from the Learning Disabilities Association of Canada, you can visit their website by clicking LDAC