CHILDREN LEARNING PROBLEMS.........................

About Learning Disabilities

Learning disabilities are present in at least 10 percent of the population. By following he links on this page you will discover many interesting facts about learning disabilities as well as uncover some of the myths. You will also be provided with practical solutions to help children and adolescents with learning
disabilities greatly improve their academic achievement as well as their
self-esteem.

What is a learning disability?

Interestingly, there is no clear and widely accepted definition of "learning
disabilities." Because of the multidisciplinary nature of the field, there
is ongoing debate on the issue of definition, and there are currently at least
12 definitions that appear in the professional literature. These
disparate definitions do agree on certain factors:

1.   The learning disabled have difficulties with academic achievement and
progress. Discrepancies exist between a person's potential for learning and
what he actually learns.

2.   The learning disabled show an uneven pattern of development (language
development, physical development, academic development and/or perceptual
development).

3.   Learning problems are not due to environmental disadvantage.

4.   Learning problems are not due to mental retardation or emotional
disturbance.

How prevalent are learning disabilities?

Experts estimate that 6 to 10 percent of the school-aged population in the United States is learning disabled. Nearly 40 percent of the children enrolled in the nation's special education classes suffer from a learning disability. The
Foundation for Children With Learning Disabilities estimates that there are 6
million adults with learning disabilities as well.

What causes learning disabilities?

Little is currently known about the causes of learning disabilities. However,
some general observations can be made:

         Some children develop and mature at a
slower rate than others in the same age group. As a result, they may not be able to do the expected school work. This kind of
learning disability is called "maturational lag."

      Some children with normal vision and hearing may misinterpret everyday
sights and sounds because of some unexplained disorder of the nervous system.

      Injuries before birth or in early childhood probably account for some
later learning problems.

      Children born prematurely and children who had medical problems soon
after birth sometimes have learning disabilities.

Learning disabilities tend to run in families, so some learning
disabilities may be inherited.

Learning disabilities are more common in boys than girls, possibly because boys
tend to mature more slowly.

      Some learning disabilities appear to be linked to the irregular
spelling, pronunciation, and structure of the English language. The incidence
of learning disabilities is lower in Spanish or Italian speaking countries.

What are the "early warning signs" of learning disabilities?

Children with learning disabilities exhibit a wide range of symptoms. These include problems with reading, mathematics, comprehension, writing, spoken language, or reasoning abilities. Hyperactivity, inattention and perceptual coordination may also be associated with learning disabilities but are not learning disabilities themselves. The primary characteristic of a learning disability is a significant difference between a child's achievement in some areas and his or her overall intelligence. Learning disabilities typically affect five general areas:

1.   Spoken language: delays, disorders, and deviations in listening and
speaking.

2.   Written language: difficulties with reading, writing and spelling.

3.  Arithmetic: difficulty in performing arithmetic operations or in
understanding basic concepts.

4.   Reasoning: difficulty in organizing and integrating thoughts.

5.   Memory: difficulty in remembering information and instructions.