Characteristics of Students with Learning Disabilities
Academic
Common Characteristics:
- Approximately 80% of students with LD's have difficulty in learning to read. Reading Difficulties
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Cognitive
Common Deficits:
Memory Problems
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Social
Social Deficits:
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Motivational
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1. Dyslexia (difficulty in reading)
Dyslexia is a learning disability that occurs when a students brain fails to recognize and process:
- letter and word recognition
- understanding words and ideas
- reading speed and fluency
- general vocabulary skills
- comprehension difficulties in grasping the meaning of words, phrases, paragraphs
2. Dyscalculia (difficulty in math)
Dyscalculia is a varying learning disability where students are found to have trouble learning math. There are two specific areas of weakness involving dyscalculia:
Visual-Spatial Difficulties (trouble processing what the eyes see) and Language Processing Difficulties (trouble processing what the ears hear)
Visual-Spatial Difficulties (trouble processing what the eyes see) and Language Processing Difficulties (trouble processing what the ears hear)
- memorization
- organization of numbers
- counting principles
- operation signs
- number facts
- telling time
3. Dysgraphia (difficulty in writing)
Dysgraphia is a learning disability that makes the act of writing difficult. People with dysgraphia may have trouble with:
- spelling
- neatness and consistency of writing
- trouble organizing thoughts onto paper
- accurately copying letters and words
- comprehending and synthesizing information
4. Dyspraxia (difficulty in fine motor skills)
Dyspraxia is a learning disability involving motor skills. These include fine motor skills (cutting, writing) and gross motor skills (running, jumping). The severity can be different from person to person.
5. Dysphasia/Aphasia (difficulty with language)
Dysphasia/Aphasia generally mean the same thing, in which people have difficulties with spoken and written communication.
- Dysphasia means the partial or total loss of language as a result of lesions in those parts of the brain that are directly related to language function.
- Aphasia is seen most frequently when the left side of the brain is afflicted, as evidenced by paralysis of the right arm and leg.
Signs of a language-based learning disorder involve: - problems with verbal language skills
- inability to retell a story
- poor fluency of speech
- the inability to understand the meaning of words, parts of speech, directions, etc.
6. Auditory Processing Disorder (difficulty with sounds)
This is a learning disability where a student's brain has trouble processing auditory information. Teachers may notice students having trouble with:
- distinguishing the difference between words with similar sounds (ex: seventy, seventeen)
- following verbal directions
- remembering details
- distinguishing important sounds and words from background noise
- staying focused on auditory information being given (lecture, following directions)
7. Visual Processing Disorder (difficulty interpreting visual information)
Visual Processing Disorder is a learning disability where students have difficulties in visual perception.
Examples teachers may see:
Examples teachers may see:
- missing subtle differences in shapes
- reversing letters or numbers
- skipping words
- skipping lines
- misperception in depth or distance
- problems with hand-eye-coordination
- seeing an image within a competing background