Learning Disabilities

TLSE 240

What do all these people have in common? Cher Jay Leno Whoopi Goldberg Charles Schwab Greg Louganis Bruce Jenner Nelson Rockefeller

They all have or had a

LEARNING DISABILITY….

IDEA Definition “ a disorder in one or more of the basic

psychological processes involved in understanding or in using language… (Psychological processes are memory, perception, attention, etc.)

continued that may manifest itself in an imperfect

ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell, or do math calculations…”

Includes conditions such as: Perceptual

disabilities Brain injury Minimal brain

dysfunction Dyslexia Developmental

aphasia

Does not include Problems primarily resulting from

Sensory or motor disabilities Mental retardation Emotional disturbance Environmental, cultural, or economic

disadvantage

Learning Disabilities (LD) Most common disability among students

who receive special education (50.8% of all disabilities)

Several kinds of specific learning disabilities exist (i.e., reading, math, writing, etc.)

Difficulty in learning, especially in speaking, listening, writing, reading, and mathematics

LD continued Presumed cause is central nervous system

dysfunction Unexpected under achievement is a

common characteristic Average or above average IQ Discrepancy between potential to learn and

level of achievement

Discrepancy Compare IQ level on

IQ test with achievement test scores

Not a perfect way to assess

Issues with discrepancy approach/formula

Some Characteristics Difficulty in understanding

and following directions Short attention span Difficulty with handwriting

and fine motor skills Visual or auditory memory Memorizing words or

basic math facts Difficulty allocating time

and organizing work

Characteristics continued Segmenting words into sounds and

blending sounds May confuse letters and words (b, d) (was,

saw) Poor phonics/decoding/phonological

awareness Rapid naming Inefficient learning strategies

Terms Dyslexia – severe

disability in learning to read, especially as related to decoding and spelling

Dysgraphia – severe disability in learning to write, including handwriting

continued

Dyscalculia – severe disability in learning math concepts and computations

LD History Coined by Sam Kirk in 1963 in Chicago Previous terms Fast growing category Controversy Invisible disability

History continued Kirk Orton Process/product debate

Assumed Causes Neurological based Part of brain responsible for sounds and

symbols May be genetic link Lead paint injection FAS

Teaching Ideas Direct instruction Memory/learning

strategies Self-management Multi-sensory learning Organized learning

Teaching Ideas continued Task analysis Accommodations Projects Technologies Other

Other Facts - LD Learning disabilities

often run in families Learning disabilities is

a life long disability About 35% of students

with LD drop out of school

Other Facts continued Learning disabilities can be a serious

obstacle to gainful employment 50% of young criminals were determined to

have learning disabilities 85% of Americans often confuse learning

disabilities with mental retardation Early and appropriate interventions are

essential