ADD/ADHD, Learning &emotional disturbances, Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Autism, PDD,

ADD/ADHD, Learning &emotional disturbances, Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Autism, PDD,

Specific Learning Disabilities

Young boy listening to a friend talking into his hear, demonstrating symptoms of Auditory Processing Disorder.Auditory Phttphttps://files.cdn-files-a.com/uploads/640303/1600_59c862d0ef84e.jpghttps://files.cdn-files-a.com/uploads/640303/1600_59c862d0ef84e.jpgs://files.cdn-files-a.com/uploads/640303/1600_59c862d0ef84e.jpgrocessing Disorder (APD)

Also known as Central Auditory Processing Disorder, this is a condition that adversely affects how sound that travels unimpeded through the ear is processed or interpreted by the brain. Individuals with APD do not recognize subtle differences between sounds in words, even when the sounds are loud and clear enough to be heard. 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.

 

Young femaile student having difficulty with math problem on chalkboard displaying symptoms of Dyscalculia.Dyscalculia

A specific learning disability that affects a person’s ability to understand numbers and learn math facts. Individuals with this type of LD may also have poor comprehension of math symbols, may struggle with memorizing and organizing numbers, have difficulty telling time, or have trouble with counting.


 

Student having difficulty writing while doing school work, expressing symptoms of Dysgraphia.Dysgraphia

A specific learning disability that affects a person’s handwriting ability and fine motor skills. Problems may include illegible handwriting, inconsistent spacing, poor spatial planning on paper, poor spelling, and difficulty composing writing as well as thinking and writing at the same time.


 

Young female student expressing frustration while rereading, demonstrating symptoms of Dyslexia.Dyslexia

A specific learning disability that affects reading and related language-based processing skills. The severity can differ in each individual but can affect reading fluency, decoding, reading comprehension, recall, writing, spelling, and sometimes speech and can exist along with other related disorders. Dyslexia is sometimes referred to as a Language-Based Learning Disability.


 

Little girl holding up toy blocks that spell Language Processing Disorder

A specific type of Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) in which there is difficulty attaching meaning to sound groups that form words, sentences and stories. While an APD affects the interpretation of all sounds coming into the brain, a Language Processing Disorder (LPD) relates only to the processing of language. LPD can affect expressive language and/or receptive language.


 

Young boy sitting alone holding his kneesNon-Verbal Learning Disabilities

A disorder which is usually characterized by a significant discrepancy between higher verbal skills and weaker motor, visual-spatial and social skills. Typically, an individual with NLD (or NVLD) has trouble interpreting nonverbal cues like facial expressions or body language, and may have poor coordination.


 

Young girl having difficulty painting displaying symptoms of Visual Perception/Visual Motor Deficit disorder.Visual Perceptual/Visual Motor Deficit

A disorder that affects the understanding of information that a person sees, or the ability to draw or copy. A characteristic seen in people with learning disabilities such as Dysgraphia or Non-verbal LD, it can result in missing subtle differences in shapes or printed letters, losing place frequently, struggles with cutting, holding pencil too tightly, or poor eye/hand coordination.


 

Related Disorders

Distracted teenage student looking out of classroom window during school displaying symptoms of ADHD.ADHD

A disorder that includes difficulty staying focused and paying attention, difficulty controlling behavior and hyperactivity. Although ADHD is not considered a learning disability, research indicates that from 30-50 percent of children with ADHD also have a specific learning disability, and that the two conditions can interact to make learning extremely challenging.


 

Young child playing in children's ball pit.Dyspraxia

A disorder that is characterized by difficulty in muscle control, which causes problems with movement and coordination, language and speech, and can affect learning. Although not a learning disability, dyspraxia often exists along with dyslexia, dyscalculia or ADHD.


 

Executive FunctioningYoung adult woman writing in her organizer

An inefficiency in the cognitive management systems of the brain that affects a variety of neuropsychological processes such as planning, organization, strategizing, paying attention to and remembering details, and managing time and space. Although not a learning disability, different patterns of weakness in executive functioning are almost always seen in the learning profiles of individuals who have specific learning disabilities or ADHD.


 

Young man with string tied to finger trying to remember something.Memory

Three types of memory are important to learning. Working memory, short-term memory and long-term memory are used in the processing of both verbal and non-verbal information. If there are deficits in any or all of these types of memory, the ability to store and retrieve information required to carry out tasks can be impaired.