About Learning Disorders

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Learning disorders may affect several skills, like reading, writing, spelling, the ability to speak, to listen, reason and organize information. Learning disorders are not caused by low intelligence, like most would think. Their most probable cause is a Central Nervous System Dysfunction. A learning disability may be present in an individual along with other impairments, like sensory impairment or even mental retardation, or with external influences like insufficient education, but it is not directly linked to such factors.

Categorizing learning disorders may be done according to the type of information processing that is altered or to the particular problem resulted from a processing deficit. Information processing deficits refer to alterations that occur in the four processing stages involved in learning: input, integration, storage, and output. For example, when input is affected (information perceived through the senses) a person may be unable to recognize the shape or size of an object or to feel pain. Specific learning disorders caused by a processing deficit may be: reading disability, writing disability, math disability, nonverbal learning disability, dyspraxia (difficulties with motor skills), disorders of speaking and listening.

Though some parents will identify a learning disorder in their child before he is sent to school, problems are often more evident when difficulties at school occur. Learning disorders are usually recognized by school psychologists, neuropsychologists or clinical psychologists. Identification is done by using intelligence tests, academic achievement tests, assessing classroom performance and social interaction. By combining these evaluation methods it will be determined whether a child reaches his potential or not. Several school systems have decided that learning disorders are recognized when IQ scores and achievement scores are not a natural match. There have been voices though who do not agree with using this method.

There is treatment for learning disorders. Although processing difficulties are considered to last for a lifetime, academic skills can be improved with appropriate interventions.