Learning Disability: What is It?

October is Learning Disabilities Month. Now, do you know what LD (learning disability) is? Learning disability is not a problem with intelligence. Most children with LD have average to above average IQ and some are even smarter than their peers who have no LD. A learning disability is a neurological disorder. A learning disability results from a difference in the way a person's brain is "wired." Children with LD 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.

There are different types of learning disabilities thus the variety of skills affected by LD. Here is a list of the different types of learning disabilities frequently identified.

Problem Area	Disorder
Language	Reading disorder (Dyslexia) Disorder of Written Expression( Dysgraphia)
Calculation	Mathematics Disorder (Dyscalculia)
Motor Skills	Developmental Coordination Disorder (Dyspraxia)
Communication Disorder	Expressive language disorder Mixed receptive-expressive language disorder Phonological disorder stuttering

Some signs of learning disability can be manifested in early childhood which is highly beneficial for onset of early prognosis and intervention. Now developmental lag (late development) is not a symptom of LD until the child is muck older and attending school. If you notice than something is just not "right" with your child, have him assessed by a clinical psychologist or your developmental pediatrician. Parents have a sixth sense about these things, especially if this is not your first child.If parents, teachers, and other professionals discover a child's learning disability early and provide the right kind of help, it can give the child a chance to develop skills needed to lead a successful and productive life.