• CHAPTER ANNOTATION

1. INTRODUCTION TO LEARNING DISABILITIES
2. DEFINING LEARNING DISABILITIES
3. CLASSIFICATION OF LEARNING DIFFICULTIES
4. PREVALENCE AND ETIOLOGY OF LEARNING DISABILITIES
5. ASSESSMENT OF LEARNING DISABILITIES
6. READING DIFFICULTIES
7. WRITTEN LANGUAGE DEFICITS
8. MATH UNDERACHIEVEMENT
9. MOTOR COORDINATION DEFICITS
10. ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER
11. SOURCES AND LITERATURE

3. CLASSIFICATIONS OF LEARNING DIFFICULTIES

Every country has its own classification of learning difficulties. Some countries have only 3 main groups (e.g. some US definitions), others prefer in depth specification (e.g. Czech Republic). Below you can find the two universally recognized classifications – by American DSM-IV and WHO.

The WHO Classification

One of the worldwide used classifications was published by the World Health Organisation in 1992. Diagnostics, assessment as well as teaching and care require team work where the knowledge of WHO terms below might be useful.

Specific Developmental Disorders of Scholastic Skills (F81)

Specific Reading Disorder (F81.0)
Specific Spelling Disorder (F81.1)
Specific Disorder of Arithmetical Skills (F81.2)
Mixed Disorder of Scholastic Skills (F81.3)
Other Developmental Disorders of Scholastic Skills (F81.8)
Developmental Disorder of Scholastic Skills, unspecified (F81.9)

The DSM-IV Classification

And finally, let’s have a look at the definition of learning disorders by the 4^th edition of the Diagnostics and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. The DSM-IV also focuses on the discrepancy between the individual’s achievements in reading, mathematics and writing and his/her age, schooling and intelligence.

The Manual discriminates the following types:

315.00 Reading Disorder

315.1 Mathematics Disorder

315.2 Disorder of Written Expression

315.9 Learning Disorder Not Otherwise Specified