Learning Disorders
Learning Disorders are usually diagnosed in Infancy, Childhood, or Adolescence.
according the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders –
IV, A learning disorder is diagnosed if their difficulties in mathematics,
reading and written expression interferes with daily living and is standardized
testing scores are substantially low for the specific age group.
People with Learning Disorders often have low self esteem, have deficits
in social skills, have experienced difficulties in school, employment and
social interaction. There are abnormalities in gaining knowledge including
the way they see things, understanding and using language, their ability
to maintain attention and memory recall.
Health professionals consider many factors when diagnosing learning disorders
including considering any family history of learning disorders, injuries
to the mother during pregnancy and injuries sustained as an infant. Also
considered is if there is any history of neurological conditions, or other
medical conditions including led poisoning, impaired vision or hearing, Fetal
Alcohol Syndrome, developmental delays or psychiatric disorders. They will
also take into consideration your ethnic, cultural and economic background
and their access to education.
Reading Disorder
A reading disorder is determined by an inability to distinguish among common
letters, associate common phonemes with letter symbols and poor reading accuracy
and comprehension.
Mathematics
Number of different skills may be impaired including linguistic skills:
understanding or naming mathematical terms, operations or concepts, decoding
written problems, and clustering objects into groups. Perceptual skills:
recognizing or reading number symbols or arithmetic signs, and clustering
objects into groups. Attention skills: copying of number figures correctly,
remembering to carry numbers and observing operational signs and mathematical
skills: following sequences of mathematical steps counting objects, learning
multiplication tables. There is also confusion in number concepts or in ability
to count accurately.
Written Expression
A learning disorder in written expression is characterized by an inability
to write with numerous grammar and punctuation errors in sentences, poor
paragraph structure, multiple spelling errors, very poor handwriting, and
an inability to recall letter sequences.
Submitted by Tanya P. |
