Definition of Learning Disability:

Learning disabilities are permanent disorders presumed to be due to a central nervous system dysfunction that affects the manner in which an individual with normal to above average intelligence acquires, processes, retains and expresses information. Such difficulties with processing significantly affect that individual’s academic development in specific areas.

Some specific disorders described by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental disorders of the American Psychiatric Association are:

Attention-Deficit Disorder (314.00)

This is very similar to ADHD but without impulsiveness and hyperactivity. Some individuals may exhibit ADD with Hypo-activity. As stimuli and confusion and stress increase the student seems to “shut down” and lose their ability to respond to the situation.

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (314.01)

This is marked by inappropriate degrees of inattention, impulsivity and hyper-activity. It may appear as inability to stay focused on task for average amounts of time, impulsive behavior, speaking out in class, difficulty with organizing work, inability to focus and complete test and / or homework, difficulty following directions, etc.

Dyslexia (315.00) Developmental Reading Disorder

This disorder is a marked impairment in word recognition skills and reading comprehension that significantly interferes with academic achievement or daily living actives requiring reading skills. Oral reading is characterized by slow, halting reading, work phrase omissions, distortions and work substitution. Deficits in expressive language and speech discrimination may also be present.

Dyscalculia (315.10) Developmental Arithmetic Disorder

This is a marked impairment in arithmetic skills such as naming math terms, under-standing naming operations, decoding symbols, miscopying figures, following sequences, etc. It may be present in the reception, processing and expression of knowledge.

Dysgraphia (315.80) developmental Expressive Writing Disorder

This is the impairment in ability to produce written texts and may include spelling and grammar errors, punctuation errors within sentences or poor thought and/ or text organization. Discriminate between main topics and secondary information many be poor.

Developmental Articulation Disorder (315.39)

This is marked by consistent failure to make correct articulations of speech sounds resulting in inadequate expression of information, especially apparent when learning a second language.

Developmental Expressive language Disorder (315.31)

This is not reflected in nonlinguistic functions but may be present as limited vocabulary, difficulty acquiring new words, short sentences, consistent vocabulary errors and omissions of critical parts of sentence, etc.

Developmental Receptive language Disorder (315.31)

This is a comprehension deficit that may cause difficulty in understanding words, particular types of words or statements, especially apparent when learning a second language.