While they can be challenging to identify and are sometimes disregarded, learning disabilities in adults and children are actually common. In contrast to behavioural or intellectual problems, learning disabilities are distinct. The causes vary but are generally thought to result from genetic or neurological variations.
Furthermore, learning disabilities frequently coexist, which means that an individual can have more than one disability. So, let's take a closer look at the five most common learning disabilities among children.
What Are Learning Disabilities?
A learning disability is a neurological issue that limits an individual's ability to process and comprehend information. It can also impact the following abilities of an individual, such as:
- Reading
- Writing
- Listening
- Speaking
- Spelling
- Maths skill
Intellectual disabilities and learning disabilities are not the same, nor do they represent a person's intelligence or motivation. The severity of learning disabilities can vary and may affect one particular skill or a group of related skills. They are typically present from birth or early infancy and might last a lifetime.
To thrive academically and professionally, some individuals with learning disabilities may need adjustments, but others may be able to overcome their obstacles with additional assistance and effort. Although they are very common, learning disabilities can be immensely isolating.
The good news is that, with advancements in science and technology, there are ways to address these conditions so that they do not become insurmountable challenges.
How Does Learning Disabilities Affect People?
Individuals with learning disabilities can be affected in various ways and to varying degrees. While some individuals with learning disabilities may struggle with specific skills, like reading or maths, others may struggle more generally with learning and information processing.
An individual with learning difficulties may struggle academically and experience the following:
- Low self-esteem
- Frustration
- Challenges interacting with others
But with the proper assistance and adjustments, a lot of individuals with learning disabilities are capable of navigating their obstacles and succeeding in both school and life.
Who is Affected by Learning Disabilities?
Individuals of different ages, races, and socioeconomic statuses can have learning disabilities. They can linger throughout a person's life and are typically present from birth or early childhood.
Learning impairments can affect everyone. Some well-known celebrities with learning problems have overcome their challenges and succeeded in spite of them.
Like other traits genetically passed down through families, learning disabilities can be inherited. Individuals with learning disabilities are more likely to have family members who also struggled with learning. This shows that learning disabilities could have a hereditary component.
There are also certain factors that increase the risk of learning disabilities in an individual, such as:
- Premature birth
- Low birth weight
- Exposure to toxins or infections during pregnancy
But a learning disability frequently has an unknown underlying reason.
Common Learning Disabilities Among Children
Rather than a lack of intelligence or motivation, your child may be struggling with learning disabilities if they are having a hard time processing or understanding information in school. Here are five of the most common learning disabilities.
Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a language-based learning disability that affects how spoken and/or written language is processed. Children with dyslexia often struggle to read accurately and fluently.
The symptoms of dyslexia can appear in a number of different ways. Here are a few of the more common "types" of dyslexia you may know about:
- Phonological dyslexia: Difficulty categorising words based on sound.
- Visual dyslexia: Difficulty recognising words by sight. The mind has a hard time recalling what the word looks like.
- Rapid naming dyslexia: Difficulty naming multiple letters or numerals in a row. This might be a problem with how quickly things are processed and read.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Children with ADHD struggle to pay attention and concentrate on a single task. They find it difficult to focus in traditional school environments and are frequently easily distracted.
While not being hyperactive or impulsive, some kids may struggle with inattentiveness. This condition is referred to as attention deficit disorder (ADD). Some signs of inattentiveness are the following:
- Being easily distracted and having a limited attention span
- Difficulty learning new things and following directions
- Losing or forgetting stuff
- Having trouble planning and completing projects
On the other hand, impulsivity and hyperactivity are defined as the following:
- Inability to sit still and constant fidgeting in calm or quiet environments
- Difficulty concentrating on projects
- Talking excessively
- Acting impulsively
- Having little or no awareness of danger
Dyscalculia
Children who have dyscalculia find it challenging to grasp mathematical concepts like:
- Place value
- Quantity
- Time
- How to organise numbers
Furthermore, they could struggle to understand, remember, and/or apply the methods necessary to solve maths issues. Even after countless hours of repetition and rote learning, the child can still have trouble remembering simple maths facts.
Dyscalculia can cause a child to have extreme maths anxiety, causing them to avoid number-based games completely. The child can experience poor time and money management later in life if the problem is not addressed.
Dysgraphia
Dysgraphia is a term used to describe challenges with writing on paper. The signs of this learning disability include:
- Having a tight grip when holding a pencil
- Illegible handwriting
- Inconsistent spacing
- Poor spelling (unfinished words or missing words or letters)
Additionally, the child can have difficulty replicating the outline of a letter or artwork.
It can be challenging to think and write at the same time if an individual struggle with dysgraphia. When creating a story, the child may begin from the middle and leave out key information and details, or they may repeatedly reiterate the same point.
Dysgraphia can also cause problems with language and punctuation, such as not starting phrases with capital letters or writing sentences that "go on forever."
Dyspraxia
The inability to organise and coordinate physical action is a sign of dyspraxia, characterised by delayed neurological development. A child with dyspraxia might have trouble with any of the following skills:
- Gross motor abilities (such as hand-eye coordination and holding a pencil)
- Fine motor skills (running, jumping)
There are several types of dyspraxia, including:
- Ideomotor dyspraxia: Trouble performing simple actions like pouring juice or using a fork.
- Ideational dyspraxia: Having problems organising and carrying out a number of steps necessary for complex tasks (such as tying shoelaces or riding a bike)
- Oromotor dyspraxia: Difficulty in controlling muscle movement for clear speech.
- Constructional dyspraxia: Having trouble grasping spatial relations.
Equipping Your Child With Learning Disability With The Right Tools Is Vital
If your child has any of the above-mentioned learning disabilities, look for solutions to assist your child in adapting better at school. Early intervention is required for learning difficulties since they might affect a child's general development and make it more difficult for them to integrate into future social settings.
