Types of Learning Disabilities

There are numerous types of learning disabilities. Not only are they many and varied, but the intervention options are different for each. That's why it is so critical to get an accurate diagnosis of the specific learning issues.

Following is a summarized list of some types of learning disabilities by category:

Visual Disorders :


• Visual Processing weakness
• Visual Memory (short/long term deficits)
• Visual-Motor integration struggles
• Visual Discrimination
  
  

  Auditory Disorders:

• Auditory Processing Disorder
• Auditory Memory (short/long term)
• Auditory Discrimination
  
  

  Motor Disorders

• Visual Motor Integration
  This often displays as difficulty with writing, and struggles with other fine motor skills
  
  

  Expressive Language Problems

• Difficulty formulating thoughts into words
• Struggling to write down thoughts
• Inadequate word retrieval
• Non-Verbal Learning Disability

Specific Learning Disabilties

Often when one or more of the above areas shows up in testing results, a child (or adult) may be diagnosed with a specific learning disability.

This may involve many of the above areas - it rarely means that there is only one issue to address.

Here are some of the types of specific learning disabilities:

• Dyslexia
  
  
• Dysgraphia (difficulty with writing)
  
  
• ADD or ADHD with learning problems
  
  
• Auditory Processing Disorder
  
  
• Math Disability
  
  
• Visual Processing Disorder
  
  
• PDD -Pervasive Developmental Disorder (such as autism/Aspberger's)
  
  
• Sensory Integration Disorder
  
  
• Reading Disability
  
  
• Non Verbal Learning Disability
  
  
• Executive Dysfunction

So What Is My Next Step?

As you can see, the scope of possible learning disabilities is wide. For this reason, it is so important to have testing done, and the results interpreted by a trusted professional in the field.

A popular belief, in vogue 10-15 years ago, said that children with these issues were just "slow to mature". Having been through this scenario with one of my children, I want to assure you that it's not worth it to waste precious time hoping your child will simply "outgrow" his or her struggles.

If you're concerned about the possibility of learning problems in someone you love, see this page on common symptoms of learning problems. There's no time like the present to address this issue.

I encourage you to learn all you can from this site, and then take action on behalf of the child or adult who is struggling.

Defnition of Learning Disabilities

Dyslexia Symptoms

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