Problems in mastering language, reading, mathematics, or other subject area that are not caused by heredity, economic, or social status. Also called specific developmental disorders.
Although there has been disagreement in the field regarding a specific operational definition, the term learning disabilities generally refers to a group of disorders that are characterized by learning problems to the degree that academic achievement or daily functioning is significantly impaired. The three primary diagnoses include reading disorder, mathematics disorder, and disorder of written language (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 1994). A child is considered to have a specific learning disability if academic achievement in one or more of these three areas (as measured by individually administered standardized assessment tools) is substantially below that expected for the child’s chronological age and assessed level of intelligence (APA, 1994). The majority of states use a discrepancy definition in the process of identifying children with learning disabilities; this discrepancy is often defined as a difference of 2 or more standard deviations between academic achievement and intelligence. There have been continuing efforts to further delineate specific subtypes of learning disabilities such as nonverbal learning disabilities; however, empirical support for various subtypes remains sparse.
An umbrella term for a wide range of educational problems that involve continuing difficulties in speaking, listening, reading, writing, interpreting, understanding, and remembering but are not due to any other kind of handicap (such as mental retardation), unfamiliarity with the culture and its language, or failure of instructional methods, though they may involve uneven development or developmental delay in certain areas.
A group of lifelong disorders that affect the ability to master basic skills such as reading, writing, doing mathematics, following instructions, and paying attention. Learning disabilities are among the leading reasons for failure in school. Learning disabilities appear to be caused by a malfunction in the way a child’s brain receives, processes, and communicates information. Most disabilities occur in children of average or above-average intelligence. Typically, achievement in a certain area lags behind what is expected based on the child’s full intelligence. In some cases, learning disabilities may also be related to hearing or vision problems, poor motivation emotional difficulties, or mental retardation.
A disruption in the cognitive faculties involved in comprehending and employing spoken and written language, leading to challenges in one or multiple academic proficiencies such as reading, writing, and mathematics.