My child is struggling 
Now that my child has 
LD In Adults
It is never too late to identify and get help for a learning disability. Finding out about a learning disability can be a great relief to adults who could not explain the reason for their struggles in the past. Testing for LD in adulthood is not uncommon, and seeking support and services (a legal entitlement through the Americans with Disabilities Act is key to leading a successful and productive life.
Accommodations and Modifications
Once a learning disability is identified, different kinds of assistance can be provided. In addition to specialized, explicit types of instruction, children with LD are entitled to have accommodations (such as extended time, readers, and note-takers) or modifications (such as abbreviated tests or alternate assignments) as appropriate. These guarantees are afforded to children with LD by law.
Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) of 1997 and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, people of all ages with LD – children and adults – are protected against discrimination and have a right to different forms of assistance in the classroom and workplace.
LD Terminology |
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Disability |
Area of difficulty |
Symptoms include trouble with |
Example |
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Dyslexia |
Processing language |
Reading, writing, and spelling |
Confusing letter names and sounds, difficulties blending sounds into words, , slow rate of reading, trouble remembering after reading text |
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Dyscalculia |
Math skills |
Computation, remembering math facts, concepts of time and money |
Difficulty learning to count by 2s, 3s, 4s, poor mental math skills, problems with spatial directions |
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Dysgraphia |
Written expression |
Handwriting, spelling, composition |
Illegible handwriting, difficulty organizing ideas for writing |
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Dyspraxia |
Fine motor skills |
Coordination, manual dexterity |
Trouble with scissors, buttons, drawing |
Information Processing Disorders |
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Auditory Processing Disorder |
Interpreting auditory information |
Language development, reading |
Difficulty anticipating how a speaker will end a sentence |
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Visual Processing Disorder |
Interpreting visual information |
Reading, writing, and math |
Difficulty distinguishing letters like "h" and "n" |
Other Related Disorders |
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Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) |
Concentration and focus |
Over-activity, distractibility, and impulsivity |
Can't sit still, loses interest quickly, daydreams |
1 IDEA Part B Child Count, 2010; student ages 6-21http://www.ideadata.org/PartBChildCount.asp
This article was first made possible by a grant from the American Legion Child Welfare Foundation.
