Learning disabilities are neurological disorders that affect a person’s ability to process, store, and communicate information. An estimated 10-15% of people have some form of learning disability, making them one of the most common developmental disorders. While the symptoms and severity can vary greatly, they typically become apparent once a child starts school and begins to struggle with reading, writing, math, focus, organization, listening comprehension, and other skills. There are many different types of learning disabilities, but 3 most common types of learning disabilities include:
1. Dyslexia
Dyslexia is the most well-known and most diagnosed learning disability. It causes difficulty with reading and language-based processing skills. Some of the key symptoms of dyslexia include:
- Difficulty learning letter sounds and rhyming patterns
- Confusing similar looking letters and words like “b” and “d”
- Struggling to sound out unfamiliar words
- Slow and inaccurate reading and writing
- Poor spelling skills that are disconnected from other abilities
- Difficulty recognizing sight words and decoding new words
- Problems connecting letters to sounds and blending sounds into words
Dyslexia is not related to intelligence, and people with dyslexia typically have average or above-average IQ. It’s important to identify dyslexia early through academic testing, as targeted interventions and accommodations can help significantly.
2. Dyscalculia
Dyscalculia causes severe difficulty in learning and comprehending math concepts and skills. Key symptoms of dyscalculia include:
- Difficulty memorizing and recalling math facts like multiplication tables
- Struggling to understand mathematical symbols or concepts
- Problems with counting, estimation, measurement, and telling time
- Difficulty with spatial relationships and directionality
- Inability to do mental math or number manipulations
- Poor understanding of numerical magnitude and place value
- Mixing up math operational signs like + and –
Like dyslexia, dyscalculia is unrelated to overall intelligence. But it can greatly interfere with a student’s ability to learn math at grade level without accommodations.
3. Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)
Auditory processing disorder (APD) affects how the brain processes auditory information. People with APD struggle to decode and accurately interpret sounds and speech. Signs of APD include:
- Difficulty understanding speech amid background noise
- Need for instructions to be simplified or repeated
- Problems remembering information presented verbally
- Difficulty telling subtle differences between speech sounds
- Trouble localizing or tracking moving sounds
- Mishearing words and mistaking similar sounding words
- Taking longer to respond to questions or directions
APD can significantly impact language development and literacy skills. But identifying it early allows for management with FM systems, hearing aids, and therapy.
Causes & Risk Factors
Researchers don’t know the exact causes of learning disabilities, but these factors are believed to contribute:
- Genetics – Learning disabilities often run in families. Differences in brain structure and function may be inherited.
- Brain development – Abnormalities in brain structure, connectivity, and neurochemistry can affect learning skills. These may arise before or after birth due to problems during fetal development, birth complications, infections, brain injury, or other issues.
- Environmental exposures – Exposure to certain toxins like lead or methylmercury during critical developmental periods may affect learning and cognition.
While learning disabilities are lifelong, early intervention, accommodations, and therapies allow students to be successful academically and in life. Some key accommodations include extended time, speech-to-text or text-to-speech software, audio books, and assistive technology. With the right support, people with learning disabilities can thrive in school and their careers.
Conclusion
The 3 types of learning disabilities include: dyslexia, dyscalculia, and auditory processing that cause difficulties academic domains. While symptoms vary, they are rooted in differences in how the brain processes information, not intelligence. Learning disabilities can significantly impact school performance, but identifying them early allows students to receive accommodations and supports. With these in place, people with learning disabilities are able to achieve academic success, social growth, and career aspirations.