Learning Disabilities

Introduction 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.

Historical background : 1887 – German physician Rudolf Berlin refines our definition of reading problems, using the term "dyslexia"; to describe a "very great difficulty in interpreting written or printed symbols.";

1895 – Ophthalmologist James Hinshelwood describes in medical journal, The Lancet, the case of acquired word blindness, where a 58 year old man awoke one morning to discover that he could no longer read. Hinshelwood continued to study word blindness in children, and recognized the need for early identification of these children by teachers.

1905 – The first U.S. report of childhood reading difficulties is published by Cleveland ophthalmologist Dr. W.E. Bruner.

1969 – Congress passes the Children with Specific Learning Disabilities Act, which is included in the Education of the Handicapped Act of 1970. This is the first time federal law mandates support services for students with learning disabilities.

1987 – A report released by the Interagency Committee on Learning Disabilities calls for the establishment of Centers for the Study of Learning and Attention, whose sole purpose is to expand research and understanding of this issue.

1990 – The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) The term 'disability' replaces 'handicap,' and the new law requires transition services for students. Autism and traumatic brain injury are added to the eligibility list.

2005 – Dr. Jeffrey Gruen and his research team at Yale University identified a gene that had patterns and variations that were strongly associated with dyslexia.

Types of Learning Disabilities1.Auditory Processing Disorder

(APD)

2.Dyscalculia

3.Dyslexia

4.Nonverbal Learning Disabilities

5.Visual Perceptual/Visual Motor Deficit

Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)1. Also known as Central Auditory Processing Disorder.

2. This is a condition that adversely affects how sound that travels unimpeded through the ear is processed or interpreted by the brain.

3. Individuals with APD do not recognize subtle differences between sounds in words, even when the sounds are loud and clear enough to be heard.

4. They can also find it difficult to tell where sounds are coming from, to make sense of the order of sounds, or to block out competing background noises.

Symptoms: ● Doesn’t like being read to.

● Seems to hear, but not listen.

● Get tripped up by words (e.g: mispronouncing words, confuses similar-sounding words or speech delay).

● Has poor conversation skills.

● Hates loud Noises.

● Keep forgetting things due to the fact that they find it difficult to recall information they’ve heard.

Dyscalculia1. A specific learning disability that affects a person's ability to understand numbers and learn math facts.

2. Individuals with this type of LD may also have poor comprehension of math symbols.

3. They may struggle with memorizing and organizing numbers, have difficulty telling time, or have trouble with counting.Symptoms:

Established by research:

1. Delay in counting. 2. Delay in using counting strategies for addition, they tend to use inefficient techniques and

strategies for calculating addition facts. 3. Difficulties in memorizing arithmetic facts.

Some other symptoms that are likely to be: 4. Difficulty imagining a mental number line. 5. Difficulty using finger counting . 6. Difficulty understanding place value.

1. A specific learning disability that affects reading and related language -based processing skills. 2. The severity can differ in each individual but can affect:

a. reading fluencyb. Decodingc. reading comprehensiond. Recalle. Writingf. Spellingg. speech

3. It can exist along with other related disorders.4. Dyslexia is sometimes referred to as a Language -Based Learning Disability.

Dyslexia

Symptoms: 1. Speech problems (such as not being able to pronounce long words

properly). 2. Struggling to learn sequences (such as the days of the week). 3. Little understanding or appreciation of rhyming words. 4. Spelling that is unpredictable and inconsistent. 5. Confusing the order of letters in words. 6. Answering questions well orally but having difficulties writing the answers

down.7. Problems learning the names and sounds of letters.

Nonverbal Learning Disabilities1. A disorder which is usually characterized by a significant discrepancy

between higher verbal skills and weaker motor, visual- spatial and social skills.

2. Typically, an individual with NLD (or NVLD) has trouble interpreting nonverbal cues like facial expressions or body language, and may have poor coordination.Symptoms:

1. Asks a lot of questions.2. Talks like a “mini-grownup”.3. Does not like to explore. 4. Seems clumsy. 5. Misses the point. 6. Shares endless information. 7. Does not get humor or sarcasm. 8. Hates change.

Visual Perceptual/Visual Motor Deficit1. A disorder that affects the understanding of information that a person sees, or the ability to draw or

copy. 2. A characteristic seen in people with learning disabilities such as Dysgraphia or Nonverbal LD, it can

result in:a. Missing subtle differences in shapes or printed lettersb. Losing place frequentlyc. Struggles with cuttingd. Holding pencil too tightlye. Poor eye/hand coordination.Symptoms

1. Seems clumsy due to the fact that they have trouble figuring out how close/far they are from objects and people .

2. Seems to be “All Thumbs” (struggling with activities that use fine motor skills).

3. Confuses similarly shaped letters and numbers. 4. Has lots of difficulty writing. 5. Cannot focus. 6. Has trouble reading.

Causes Genes and Heredity

learning disabilities often run in the family. Children with learning disabilities are likely to have parents or other relatives with difficulties.

Studies found a child with dyscalculia often has a parent or sibling with similar math issues.

There may also be a genetic link with dysgraphia running in families.

Brain InjuryStudies show that injury to certain

parts of the brain can result in what researchers call ''acquired dyscalculia.''

Acquired dyslexia or alexia maybe caused by brain damage due to stroke.

Dysgraphia can result from brain damage, either from an accident, a severe stroke, or the existence of Alzheimer's disease.

● Illness or injury during or before birth.

● Low birth weight, lack of oxygen.

● Drug and alcohol use during pregnancy.

Problems during pregnancy and birth

Diagnosis of learning disabilitiesWell Trained personnel can diagnose it such as:

Clinical psychologistSchool psychologistEducational psychologistDevelopmental psychologistNeuropsychologistPsychometricsOccupational Therapist

The LDDI inventory helps professionals identify learning disabilities in children ages 8 to 17, and reveals the extent to which skill patterns in a particular area (e.g., reading or writing) are consistent with those of individuals known to have a learning disability in that area (e.g., dyslexia or dysgraphia).The items represent specific

observable behaviors associated with LD in

ListeningSpeakingReadingWritingMathematicsReasoning

Age Range:Identify learning disabilities in children age 8 to 17.

Time Period:The LDDI can be completed in 10 minutes by a teacher or speech-language pathologist who is familiar with the student's skills.

LDDI ScoringRaw Scores

Total number of points rated for each scale; which helps in finding out stanines.

Stanines

Stanines are converted from raw scores using the tables in an appendix.

Identify the likelihood of intrinsic processing disorders in the six areas assessed by the LDDI

Percentiles

percentile ranks represents values that indicate the percentage of the distribution of a representative sample of individuals of the same age group

LDDI Limitations1. The LDDI is limited to a single

language which is English, this limits non english speaking children to be able to take the test

2. The test is rated by the examiners so there is no measurable score that can be compared against other children's scores; It is opinion based and varies between each examiner.

LDDI PrecautionThe examiner should focus on the

child during the assessment to ensure a proper rating.

The area should be well lit and the seating comfortable for the child.

The room should be quiet to avoid all potential distractions and interruptions as the LDDI has a listening section.

The scale should not be used as basis for planning individual instructional program.

Treatments1.Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)

■ Explain by pictures rather than words.

■ Use different pitch and tone of voice.

■ Ask them if they understand.■ Give them time to think and

respond.

2.Dyscalculia ■ Allow use of fingers.■ Explain math concepts using

diagrams.■ Use colored pencils to

differentiate problems■ Teach math facts By using

rhythm and music( memory aids).

3.Dyslexia ■ Provide quiet area for reading activities.

■ Use big spaces between lines.

■ Use multi-sensory teaching methods.

Treatments4.Nonverbal Learning Disabilities ■ Verbally point out similarities,

differences and connections.■ Don’t assume child

understands something by “parroting back” what you’ve said.

■ Offer additional verbal explanations when the child seems lost or confused.

5.Visual Perceptual/Visual Motor Deficit

■ Provide tracking tools: ruler, text windows

■ Use large print books.

Learning disability VS. Learning difficulty

Difficulty = obstacle

Disability = something that incapacitates

Learning disability and Learning difficulty both refer to weaknesses in learning skills. Learning disability is

significant, lifelong condition, where learning difficulty is just a problem that affects, or substantially affects, a

person’s ability to learn. Such as emotional or environmental causes. Learning disability has nothing to do with a

student’s intelligence.

Learning disability VS. Learning difficultyLearning disability:

Its a categorical definition based on diagnosis.

Lifelong and pervasiveDo not respond readily to intensive education intervention.Skills do not improve quickly or significantly

Learning difficulty:It can be caused by physical, emotional or

environmental causes not a disorder.

Easily treated compared to Learning disability..

Effective educational intervention can improve

difficulty in basic academic skills such as reading and writing.

focus is on the functional educational difficulties

rather than on specific cause.

● Conclusion

★Parents and teachers must be aware of learning disabilities, their

causes to avoid, their symptoms to notice and their treatments to

apply if needed.

★Early diagnosis of learning disabilities will give the child a better

chance of succeeding in school and in life.

Referenceshttps://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/learning/conditioninfo/pages/diagnosed.aspx, Website TitleNational Institutes of Health, Date

AccessedApril 15, 2017http://www.ldonline.org/article/6027, Website TitleWho Can Diagnose LD and/or ADHD | LD Topics | LD OnLine, Article TitleWho Can

Diagnose LD and/or ADHD, Date AccessedApril 15, 2017https://www.mhs.com/product.aspx?gr=edu&prod=lddi&id=overview, Website TitleLDDI - Learning Disabilities Diagnostic Inventory, Date

AccessedApril 15, 2017Team, T. U. (n.d.). Auditory Processing Disorder: What You're Seeing. Retrieved April 15, 2017, from

https://www.understood.org/en/learning-attention-issues/child-learning-disabilities/auditory-processing-disorder/auditory-processing-disorder-what-youre-seeing

About Dyscalculia . (n.d.). Retrieved April 15, 2017, from http://www.aboutdyscalculia.org/symptoms.html Team, T. U. (n.d.). Dysgraphia: What You're Seeing. Retrieved April 15, 2017, from

https://www.understood.org/en/learning-attention-issues/child-learning-disabilities/dysgraphia/dysgraphia-what-youre-seeing Dyslexia - Symptoms. (n.d.). Retrieved April 15, 2017, from http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Dyslexia/Pages/Symptoms.aspx Parents. (n.d.). Retrieved April 15, 2017, from https://ldaamerica.org/types-of-learning-disabilities/language-processing-disorder/ Team, T. U. (n.d.). Nonverbal Learning Disabilities: What You're Seeing. Retrieved April 15, 2017, from

https://www.understood.org/en/learning-attention-issues/child-learning-disabilities/nonverbal-learning-disabilities/nonverbal-learning-disabilities-what-youre-seeing

Arky, B. (n.d.). Visual Processing Issues: What You're Seeing in Your Preschooler. Retrieved April 15, 2017, from https://www.understood.org/en/learning-attention-issues/child-learning-disabilities/visual-processing-issues/visual-processing-issues-what-youre-seeing-in-your-preschooler

ReferencesRetrieved April 16, 2017, from

http://www.adcet.edu.au/disability-practitioner/reasonable-adjustments/disability-specific-adjustments/learning-disability/learning-difficulty-versus-learning-disability/

Learning difficulty or Learning disability? (n.d.). Retrieved April 16, 2017, from http://www.mindroom.org/index.php/learning_difficulties/what_are_learning_difficulties/learning_difficulty_or_learning_disability/

What’s the Difference Between Learning Disabilities and Intellectual Disabilities? (n.d.). Retrieved April 16, 2017, from https://www.understood.org/en/learning-attention-issues/getting-started/what-you-need-to-know/whats-the-difference-between-learning-disabilities-and-intellectual-disabilities

Timeline of Learning Disabilities. (n.d.). Retrieved April 18, 2017, from http://www.ldonline.org/article/11244/

What is a Learning Disability? (n.d.). Retrieved April 18, 2017, from http://www.ldonline.org/ldbasics/whatisld

Parents. (n.d.). Retrieved April 18, 2017, from https://ldaamerica.org/types-of-learning-disabilities

Causes of Learning Disabilities. (2012, July 20). Retrieved April 18, 2017, from http://www.pbs.org/parents/education/learning-disabilities/basics/causes/

Done by: Farah Kamal Alsudais - 214410260

Nada AlMasry - 214511280

Ghada AlAssaf - 214410269

Nora Al-Qahtani 216410140

Haifaa Adnan Arnous 213410357

Zainab Saleh Alsamel - 213410380

Instructor: Dr. Seema Gul