Learning Disability: Types, Symptoms, Causes

Do you know that 1 in 5 people are affected by learning disabilities?

Learning disability is a condition that affects children’s ability to think and grasp information. Learning disability occurs due to a brain problem which makes it difficult to learn new things. 

Learning disability is a neurological condition that affects the brain’s ability to receive, process, store, and respond to information. Learning disabilities have become a major cause among children and adults. 

1 in 5 people are affected by learning disabilities, which hampers their day-to-day tasks. Due to learning disabilities, students perform poorly in their academics and which causes them lifelong trauma. 

Learning disability affects every person differently, as some need lifelong support, whereas some can work on their own. Learning disabilities hamper the cognitive development of students and impact children’s mental health.

There are various types of learning disabilities that affect people differently, such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, Auditory Processing Disorder, and so on. The causes of learning disabilities are a combination of genetic, environmental, and neurological factors. 

For individuals to develop the coping skills and abilities required to succeed in school and beyond, early diagnosis and intervention are crucial. 

What are Learning Disability 

Learning disability is a neurological disorder that affects the learning potential of children. Learning disability is also known as a learning disorder or learning difficulty that hampers students’ ability to learn new things. 

Learning disability hampers students’ potential to read, write, speak, concentrate, as well as hampers their day-to-day tasks. However, learning disabilities don’t affect Intelligence Quotient (IQ), and people with learning disorders may have superior intelligence. 

Learning disability affects children’s mental health as well as hampers their critical thinking skills. Learning disability varies from person to person and has several types, such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, Dyscalculia, APD, etc. 

Learning disability can occur due to various reasons, or may be present at birth or develop in early childhood. People with learning disabilities find it difficult to engage in daily activities, which also causes them to reduce their social skills. 

People who have learning disabilities need support and technological assistance. With proper support and an inclusive learning environment, people can combat learning disabilities. 

Types of Learning Disabilities 

Learning disability is an umbrella term that contains various types of software disorders that affect the learning capacity of individuals. Learning disability is a neurological disorder that affects mostly children, due to which they are unable to concentrate on their studies, which hampers their ability to learn new things. 

You can also check how teachers can help childrens with learning disabilities.

These learning disorders can be lifelong, and children may need support or guidance. Here are the following types of learning disabilities.

1. Dyslexia

Dyslexia is the most common type of learning disability that occurs in most of the cases of learning disabilities. Dyslexia is a language disorder in which children’s find it difficult to read, write, speak or understand words. 

Due to dyslexia, students speak slowly, which hampers their ability to learn new things. People with dyslexia often have a severe impairment in phonemic awareness, which is the ability to recognise and manipulate the sounds in spoken words. 

Because of this difficulty, they might find it more difficult to decode words, which would make reading difficult for them.

2. Dysgraphia

Dysgraphia is a learning disability that can impact writing abilities among children, making it challenging for an individual to express themselves clearly in writing. People with dysgraphia usually have trouble writing by hand, which results in irregular formation and poor formation. 

Due to dysgraphia, students find it challenging to work or have difficulties with their vocabulary. Dysgraphia also hampers gross motor skills as well as communication skills among children. Due to dysgraphia, students become frustrated, which leads to fatigue among them.

3. Dyscalculia

Dyscalculia is a specific kind of learning disability that hampers understanding and numerical concepts, such as numbers and mathematics. A person with dyscalculics struggles with basic number sense; they may find it difficult to comprehend fundamental mathematical ideas and relationships. 

Due to dyscalculia, students find it difficult to perform addition and multiplication tables, as well as becomes more difficult to remember. This hampers their problem-solving skills and impacts their ability to visualise and manipulate objects. 

Students with dyscalculia may experience difficulties with spatial awareness, which causes them to reduce their confidence and attention. 

4. Language Processing Disorder

Language Processing Disorder (LPD) is a mental disorder that affects children’s ability to understand and speak effectively. This disorder also hampers students’ ability to speak and use spoken language effectively. 

Individuals with LPD  find it challenging to comprehend spoken language, particularly when it involves complex sentences or multiple instructions. This difficulty can make it difficult for them to verbally express their thoughts and cause misunderstandings in conversations. 

It also causes them to delay their vocabulary development, which makes it harder for them to communicate efficiently. 

5. Auditory Processing Disorder

Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) is a mental disorder that affects a person’s ability to process information. People who have Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) may find it difficult to understand and interpret sounds. 

People with APD may have trouble understanding spoken language, particularly in noisy environments or when multiple people are speaking at once. This may make it difficult to follow spoken instructions, particularly if they are long or complicated. 

Furthermore, auditory memory can also be impacted, making it difficult to remember information that is spoken aloud. 

6. Non-Verbal Learning Disability

Non-Verbal Learning Disability (NVLD) is a significant difficulty with nonverbal skills that affects a person’s ability to interpret body language, respond to social cues and use spatial reasoning. 

People with NVLD struggle with tasks requiring visual-spatial processing, such as interpreting diagrams, maps or visual patterns, even though they usually have excellent verbal skills. 

Individuals with NVLD may struggle with motor coordination, which can make it difficult to do tasks requiring fine motor skills like writing or using tools. 

7. Visual Perceptual

Visual perceptual learning disabilities are problems processed and interpreted by the visual senses. Individuals with this type of learning disability struggle to comprehend and make sense of what they see, which can impact a number of academic abilities, particularly in math, reading and writing. 

People with visual perceptual learning disabilities may find it challenging to accomplish visual discrimination tasks such as distinguishing between similar letters or shapes, recognizing patterns or understanding spatial relationships.

Causes of Learning Disabilities

Learning disability arises due to various factors that hamper the ability of students to process information and learn efficiently. The causes of learning disabilities can occur before the person is born, during their birth, or in early childhood. 

The causes may also arise due to external factors and environmental issues. The risk factors of learning disabilities restrict students’  collaboration skills, creative thinking skills as well as make them socially isolated. 

Learning disabilities can have a variety of causes, including neurological, emotional, environmental and genetic factors. Below are the following causes of learning disabilities. 

1. Genetic Factors

Learning disabilities occur due to genetic factors. Genetic impairments occur in families, indicating a possible genetic component. Conditions like dyslexia, dyscalculia and other learning disabilities may occur due to genetic factors. 

Genetic issues affect brain development and function, which creates challenges for language processing, memory and attention. Due to genetic factors, children find it difficult to determine their needs and learning requirements. 

2. Neurological Factor

Learning abilities are significantly impacted by neurological factors. Disturbances in the brain connectivity and activity of specific brain regions can worsen learning disabilities. Neurological factors can occur due to various reasons such as mental illness, disturbance, trauma, etc. 

Neurological factors may also involve problems with brain chemistry and neurotransmitters, which can impact cognitive processes like memory, information processing and attention. 

Mainly, neurological factors are the issue of dyslexia and dyscalculia, which hampers students’ ability to read, write and speak. 

3. Environmental Factor

Environmentalism is one of the causes of learning disability among students. Numerous environmental factors can influence children’s development and learning abilities. 

These factors include exposure to environmental pollutants, malnutrition and exposure to toxins such as alcohol or drugs during pregnancy, bad habits and poor parenting. 

Learning outcomes can be greatly impacted by a child’s home environment, which includes early literacy experiences, parental support and the availability of educational resources. This hampers their social-emotional learning as well as reduces positivity and social skills.

4. Injury or Illness

Injury or Illness is also one of the major factors that cause students with learning disabilities. Students who suffer from traumatic brain injuries, such as those caused by falls or accidents, may have cognitive impairments. 

Diseases that affect the brain in particular can also result in long-term cognitive impairments. Chronic illnesses like lead poisoning or extreme malnourishment can also affect brain development and its functions. 

Sometimes injury or Illness causes a short-term learning disorder, but sometimes it may become lifelong. 

5. Emotional Disturbance

Emotional disturbance is another cause of learning disability among individuals. Emotional disturbances not only have a significant impact on a child’s learning but can also cause learning disabilities. 

A number of illnesses can affect motivation, focus and overall cognitive function, including behavioural disorders, anxiety and depression. Children who are emotionally disturbed may find it difficult to participate in class activities, which could result in academic challenges. 

Additionally, the stress brought on by emotional difficulties may make pre-existing learning disabilities worse or create a barrier for efficient learning. 

6. Nutritional Deficiency 

Nutritional deficiency is a major cause of learning disability that affects children’s ability to learn. When a person’s diet lacks essential nutrients, it can seriously impact their overall health and development, including their ability to learn and think clearly. 

Proper nutritional food is necessary for brain development and deficiencies in these nutrients can impair learning and information processing. 

Children who suffer from nutritional deficiencies may have trouble focusing, remembering things and problem solving, which can make it difficult for them to learn in school. 

Practical Solutions for Handling Students with Learning Disabilities

Learning disabilities hamper the learning process of students, which makes them slow, and it becomes difficult for them to grasp new concepts. Practical solutions for handling students with learning disabilities requires a tailored, comprehensive approach that uses a variety of methods and strategies. 

A supportive and positive learning environment, assistive technology, behavioural therapy, and medication help people with learning disabilities to develop confidence and overcome the challenges. 

Creating a proper support system and cooperation between teachers, parents, and students also helps to combat learning disability. Here are the practical solutions for handling students with learning disabilities. 

1. Behavioural Therapy

Behavioural therapy is one of the effective solutions to control learning disabilities. The primary objective of behavioural therapy is to modify specific behaviours and create coping strategies. It helps them with emotional regulation, impulse control and attention. 

This type of therapy may be especially beneficial for people with autism, dysgraphia, Dyscalculia, etc. 

Behavioural therapy also helps children to build their self-esteem and social skills, which can be especially beneficial for individuals who may experience feelings of inadequacy or frustration. 

2. Assistive Technology

Assistive technology is a broader term for a wide range of tools and devices designed to help individuals with learning disabilities in their academics. 

These tools that facilitate communication and education may include specialized hardware, software and adaptive devices. The technique of assistive technology is useful for students with dysgraphia and autism. 

These tools provide support to students and help in maintaining a smooth learning process. This assistive technology enables childrens to enhance their academic performance and provide them with greater independence.

3. Special Education

Students with learning disabilities have specific needs and special education programs help in fulfilling their needs. These programs make sure that students get the attention they require to succeed by offering personalized education and support in smaller class sizes.

Special education also helps in enhancing collaboration skills among students, which allows them to share their viewpoints and thoughts among themselves. 

Teachers with special education training are prepared to use particular teaching methods and modifications to meet the needs and learning preferences of their pupils. 

4. Supportive Environment

A supportive environment is another effective solution to combat learning disability. Establishing a supportive environment is essential for the academic and social success of people with learning disabilities. 

This helps in creating an inclusive learning environment in schools. Parents, teachers and peers can provide assistance and support to students with learning disabilities, enabling them to develop confidence and enhance their academic performance. 

Promoting open communication and group classes also helps in developing emotions and empathy towards students, which provides a support network to them.

5. Medication

Medication also helps in controlling learning disabilities. Anxiety, disorders, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are examples of co-occurring disorders that can be treated with medication. 

However, medicated treatments are very limited in learning disabilities as medicines are only provided to people with serious concerns. However, the effect of medicines can vary from person to person. 

Symptoms of Learning Disability 

Learning disability can be understood by some symptoms. Diagnosing learning disability at an early stage based on symptoms allows students to receive proper support and combat the problem. 

Symptoms such as difficulty to talk, poor concentration, poor attention, difficulty in reading and writing etc. These symptoms can arise at an early age and can be understood earlier. The following are the symptoms of learning disabilities. 

1. Poor Concentration

People with learning disabilities frequently have trouble focusing on tasks which require prolonged mental effort. Due to lack of concentration, it becomes difficult to finish assignments, follow directions and participate in class discussions. 

The symptom of poor concentration can be understood as a learning disability among students. 

Due to poor concentration, students become frustrated and can easily be distracted by external factors. This also causes individuals to feel overwhelmed and become incapable unlike other peers.

2. Difficulty in Reading and Writing 

One of the symptoms of learning disabilities is difficulty in reading and writing. Poor reading comprehension and fluency can arise due to learning difficulties. Due to these symptoms, students find it difficult to decode words and understand written content. 

When writing, they may have trouble with spelling, grammar and structure formation. These difficulties can impact students’ academic performance, as reading and writing are fundamental skills. 

By understanding these symptoms, necessary steps can be taken to limit the learning disability.

3. Short Attention Span 

Shorter attention span is another common symptom of learning disabilities. Children who become unable to concentrate on a single task for prolonged periods of time which lead to a tendency to constantly switch between activities and incomplete assignments. 

The inability to maintain attention can hinder learning and contribute to feelings of frustration and low self-esteem, as individuals may struggle to keep up with their peers.

4. Confusion

Confusion is a major symptom of learning disabilities that hampers students’ thinking capacity. Individuals with learning disabilities may experience confusion in a variety of ways. 

They might struggle to follow multi-step instructions, comprehend new ideas or comprehend instructions. Due to confusion childrens may misunderstand what is being taught or they may find it challenging to apply newly learned knowledge in the classroom. 

Confusion is an early stage sign that allows parents and teachers to understand the learning hindrances among students. 

5. Difficulty in Thinking

Individuals with learning disabilities may experience difficulties with thought processes and information processing. This could manifest as issues applying what has been learned to new situations and applying problem-solving skills. 

This cognitive difficulty may affect their ability to communicate, work with others and complete tasks that call for higher-order thinking skills. The sign of difficulty in thinking can be diagnosed at an early age as children will find it tough to think of new ideas. 

Difference Between Learning Difficulty and Learning Disability 

Learning disability and learning difficulty are both different terms related to each other. Many people consider learning disabilities as learning difficulties, but both are different concepts. 

Learning difficulty can occur for a shorter period of time due to environmental factors of trauma; however, it goes by its own or through support. On the other hand, learning disabilities is a neurological disorder and can be lifelong and need proper assistance and support. 

Both concepts are considered as problems with learning new things, analysing and understanding. Here is the detailed differentiation between learning disability and learning difficulty.

Aspect	Learning Disability	Learning Difficulty
Definition	Learning disability can be defined as a neurological disorder that affects children’s learning ability. It impacts a person’s ability to learn and perform daily tasks by affecting their intellectual functioning and adaptive behaviour.	Learning difficulties are hindrances in specific learning topics such as math, reading or writing that can be resolved with targeted support and actions.
Effect	Learning disabilities have an impact on students’ daily activities and academic achievement. Furthermore, it hinders cognitive function and makes it more difficult for pupils to think clearly.	Learning difficulties may affect a students academic performance and learning capacity; however, it doesn’t affect their cognitive abilities.
Feature	Learning disabilities impact a wide range of learning domains and can persist throughout one’s life. This causes problems with organisation, memory and focus by making reading, writing and math more challenging.	Learning difficulties affect specific subjects or learning concepts. This makes it difficult for students to comprehend new material. But with focus, assistance and intervention, this can be made better.
Remediation	Learning disability need proper support and technical assistance; however, it doesn’t go away on their own and stay for a lifetime.	Learning difficulties can be overcome with proper support, or go away on their own. Learning difficulties will stay for a shorter period of time and don’t stay lifelong.
Example	Learning disability affects reading, writing, and speaking skills due to multiple disorders such as Dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia.	Learning difficulties may include verbal, non-verbal, and auditory challenges. This occurs for a shorter period of time due to environmental factors and impulsive behaviour.

Final Thoughts

Complex neurological disorders known as learning disabilities have a substantial influence on a person’s capacity for efficient information processing and learning. About one in five people suffer from these disabilities, which can take many different forms and each presents different difficulties. 

These include auditory processing disorder, dyslexia, dysgraphia and dyscalculia. Learning disabilities have many different causes, including neurological, emotional, environmental and genetic factors. 

Creating efficient coping mechanisms and support networks requires early diagnosis and intervention. People with learning disabilities can overcome challenges and realise their full potential with the help of treatment options like behavioural therapy, assistive technology, special education and a supportive environment. 

We can establish inclusive learning environments that encourage achievement for all students by promoting understanding and offering specialized assistance. 

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