My child is struggling 
Now that my child has 
Learning disabilities (LDs) are real. They affect the brain's ability to receive, process, store, respond to, and communicate information. LDs are actually a group of disorders, not a single disorder.
Learning disabilities are not the same as intellectual disabilities (formerly known as mental retardation), sensory impairments (vision or hearing) or autism spectrum disorders. People with LD are of average or above-average intelligence but still struggle to acquireskills that impact their performance in school, at home, in the community and in the workplace. Learning disabilities are lifelong, and the sooner they are recognized and identified, the sooner steps can be taken to circumvent or overcome the challenges they present
How Can You Tell If Someone Has a Learning Disability?
The hallmark sign of a learning disability is a distinct and unexplained gap between a person's level of expected achievement and their performance.Learning disabilities affect every person differentlyand they present differently at various stages of development. LDs can range from mild to severe and it is not uncommon for people to have more than one learning disability. In addition, about one-third of individuals with LD also have Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). While LD and AD/HD can share common features, such as difficulties with concentration, memory, and organizational skills, they are not the same types of disorder. Unfortunately, LD is often confused with AD/HD and is frequently mistaken as laziness or associated with disorders of emotion and behavior. A careful and thorough review of concerns, with input from multiple sources (including parents, educators, physicians, psychologists, speech-language providers and, of course, the person themselves) is the only way to rule in or rule out a learning disability.
Learning disabilities can affect a person's ability in the areas of:
- Listening
- Speaking
- Reading
- Writing
- Spelling
- Reasoning
- Mathematics
See the chart below for specific types of learning disabilities and related disorders.
What Causes Learning Disabilities?
Experts aren't exactly sure what causes learning disabilities. In fact, there is often no apparent cause for LD. LD may be due to:
- Heredity. Often learning disabilities run in families. Children with LD are likely to have parents or other relatives with similar difficulties.
- Problems during pregnancy and birth. An illness or injury during or before birth may cause an LD. Drug and alcohol use during pregnancy, low birth weight, lack of oxygen, and premature or prolonged labor may also lead to an LD.
- Incidents after birth. Serious illness, head injuries, poor nutrition, and exposure to toxins such as lead can contribute to LD.
Learning disabilities are not caused by economic disadvantage or cultural differences, nor are they the result of lack of educational opportunity. That said, children who are denied timely and effective instruction during critical times during their development are at high risk for showing signs of LD during the school years and beyond.
