Learning Disability
Learning Disability
Sharmishtha Oak
Coordinator, B.Ed.Spl.Ed.
YCMOU, Nashik
Define learning disabilities
Explain the types of learning disabilities
Describe the characteristic of learning disability
Explain the areas and tools of assessment
Describe the various strategies for reading,
writing and maths
Learning Disabilities (not Learning Disability) is a group of
disorders.
Different children with LD have different combinations of
problems. The severity of the problems also differs.
problems in a wide range of skills that children acquire and use.
These include listening, speaking, reading, writing, reasoning, and
mathematical abilities
listed problems are not just difficulties but are ‘significant’
difficulties
We can observe the manifestations of the disability only. There is
no external and observable physical problem.
Along with the problems mentioned above (point iii ), the child
may show problems in social skills, self-regulation etc. If a child is
showing only social skill deficits and problems in self-regulation,
then the child does not have LD.
A person from different cultural background, social strata,
economic strata, impoverished background may also have LD, but
these conditions do not lead to LD. Children in schools where
poor teaching practices are found may also have LD
Learning disabilities should not be confused
with learning problems that are primarily the
result of visual, hearing, or motor handicaps; of
mental retardation; of emotional disturbance;
or of environmental, cultural or economic
disadvantages.
For more elaborative definition please read
definition given on pg. 5 in SLM EDU293
chapter 1
The characteristics of children with dyslexia
May be slow to learn the connection between letters and sounds
The child often has difficulty separating sounds in words ( e.g.
knowing that the word cat has three sounds /k/ /a/ /t/ )
Blending sounds to make words is difficult ( e.g. putting together
the three sounds /k/ /a/ /t/ to read the word cat)
Has difficulty decoding single words (reading single words in
isolation)
May have difficulty reading small words like at, to, said, and,
does etc.
Makes errors in reading. e.g.
a. Letter reversals - d for b as in, dog for bog and vice versa
b. Word reversals - tip for pit
c. Inversions - m and w, u and n
d. Transpositions - felt and left
e. Substitutions - house and home
LD has neurological basis