What is a Learning Disability?

A learning disability is a neurological disorder. In simple terms, a learning disability results
from a difference in the way a person's brain is "wired." Children with learning disabilities are
as smart or smarter than their peers. But they may have difficulty reading, writing, spelling,
reasoning, recalling and/or organizing information if left to figure things out by themselves or if
taught in conventional ways.

A learning disability can't be cured or fixed; it is a lifelong issue. With the right support and
intervention, however, children with learning disabilities can succeed in school and go on to
successful, often distinguished careers later in life.

http://www.ldonline.org/ldbasics/whatisld

Some facts about learning disabilities
  * Difficulty with basic reading and language skills are the most common learning disabilities. As
many as 80% of students with learning disabilities have reading problems.
  * Learning disabilities often run in families.
  * Learning disabilities should not be confused with other disabilities such as mental
retardation, autism, deafness, blindness, and behavioral disorders. None of these conditions are
learning disabilities. In addition, they should not be confused with lack of educational
opportunities like frequent changes of schools or attendance problems. Also, children who are
learning English do not necessarily have a learning disability.
  * Attention disorders, such as Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and learning
disabilities often occur at the same time, but the two disorders are not the same.

“Learning Disabilities”

is an “umbrella” term describing a number of other, more specific learning disabilities, such as
dyslexia and dysgraphia.

Match the names of specific disabilities in the list below with their short descriptions.

1  dyslexia,

2  discalculia,

3  dysgraphia,

4  dyspraxia (sensory integration disorder),

5  central auditory processing disorder,

6  non-verbal learning disorders,

7 visual perceptual/visual motor deficit,

8  language disorders (aphasia/dysphasia)

a) a writing disorder resulting in illegibility
b) difficulty processing and remembering language-related tasks
c) a language and reading disability
d) trouble understanding spoken language; poor reading comprehension
e) problems with motor coordination
f) trouble with non-verbal cues, e.g. body language; poor coordination, clumsy
g) problems with arithmetic and math concepts
h) reverses letters; cannot copy accurately; eyes hurt and itch; loses place; struggles with
cutting

Key

1c, 2g, 3a, 4e, 5b, 6f, 7h, 8d


Read the short text below on learning disabilities and IQ. Complete it with the most appropriate
expressions from the list.


able, acceptable, achievement, are, assignments, children, higher, in, may, only, relate,
secondary, when

Learning disabilities do not necessarily 1………… to Intelligence Quotient (IQ) and often occur in
2………… with at least average intelligence. They 3………… characterized by a significant difference in
4………… and overall intelligence. Learning disabilities 5………… be so severe that they are noticeable
6………… a child in grade school but may also 7…………  become apparent when a student reaches 8…………
grades. A capable student may be 9………… to compensate in early school years to make 10………… grades
but become unable to manage 11………… faced with note-taking, longer reading 12………… and the more
difficult demands of 13………… school.

Adapted from  http://www.answers.com/learning%20disabilities


Key

1 relate, 2 children, 3 are, 4 achievement, 5 may, 6  in, 7 only, 8 higher, 9 able, 10 acceptable,
11 when, 12 assignments, 13 secondary