Understanding Learning Disabilities: Types, Symptoms, and Support

It’s important to be cognizant of how others learn. Awareness of learning differences, especially learning disabilities, is critical. While this is most true in an educational environment, there are applications for all settings. Understanding the learning skill sets of others allows you to communicate and teach more effectively. Learning disorders can make it hard for a child to read, write or do simple math. Know the symptoms and find out what you can do.

What are Learning Disabilities?

Learning disabilities (LDs) affect how your brain processes information. This could include how you:

Acquire (take in) information.
Organize information.
Retain information.
Understand information.
Use information.

LDs can involve verbal (words or speech) and/or nonverbal information. They typically affect how you read, write and/or do math. They can range from mild to severe. Learning disabilities don’t affect intelligence and are different from intellectual disabilities. People with LDs have specific issues with learning. But they have an average or above-average IQ (intelligence quotient). Most people with an LD find out about it early in school. But some people don’t get a diagnosis until adolescence or adulthood.

Learning Disability vs. Learning Disorder

Many people use “learning disability” and “learning disorder” interchangeably. But there are technical differences:

Learning disorder: This is a diagnostic term. A licensed professional (like a psychologist) diagnoses someone with a learning disorder based on certain criteria. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR) defines “learning disorder” and its criteria.
Learning disability: This is a legal term. A public school identifies a student with a learning disability based on a variety of assessments and documentation. This may result in legal rights, like the right to an individualized education plan (IEP).

Common Types of Learning Disabilities

The Learning Disabilities Association of America and many other mental health practitioners regard the seven aforementioned disorders as specific learning disabilities. They recognize autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as related disorders that impact learning, though not specific learning disorders. Coexisting conditions, including learning disabilities, are extremely common for individuals with ASD and ADHD.

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In particular, psychology professionals should study these seven learning disabilities:

Dyslexia
Dysgraphia
Dyscalculia
Auditory processing disorder
Language processing disorder
Nonverbal learning disabilities
Visual perceptual/visual motor deficit

Underneath the learning disability umbrella, many disabilities are categorized as one of three types: dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia.

1. Dyslexia

Dyslexia happens because of disruptions in how your brain processes written words so you can understand them. This may look like issues with spelling simple words, learning the names of letters, rhyming, sounding out new words and more. Dyslexia is a language processing disorder that impacts reading, writing, and comprehension. Dyslexics may exhibit difficulty decoding words or with phonemic awareness, identifying individual sounds within words. Dyslexia often goes diagnosed for many years and often results in trouble with reading, grammar, reading comprehension, and other language skills. One of the most common types of learning disorders is a reading disorder called dyslexia. It causes you to have trouble picking out different speech sounds in words and learning how letters relate to those sounds. Dyslexia is a reading disorder characterized by difficulty recognizing letters, learning letter sounds, and identifying rhyming words. Young children with the disorder may also experience delayed language development and have trouble learning to spell and write as they reach school age.

2. Dysgraphia

This LD affects your ability to turn your thoughts into written language despite exposure to adequate instruction and education. This may look like issues with handwriting legibility, spelling, holding a pencil correctly, the rate or speed of writing, grammar and more. A learning disorder in writing, also called dysgraphia, may cause the following: Slow handwriting that takes a lot of work. Trouble recalling how to form letters, copy shapes and draw lines. Handwriting that's hard to read. Trouble putting thoughts into writing. Written text that's poorly organized or hard to understand. Trouble with spelling, grammar and punctuation. Those with dysgraphia have trouble converting their thoughts into writing or drawing. Poor handwriting is a hallmark of dysgraphia but is far from the only symptom. Sufferers struggle to translate their thoughts into writing, whether in spelling, grammar, vocabulary, critical thinking, or memory. Individuals with dysgraphia may exhibit difficulty with letter spacing, poor motor planning and spatial awareness, and trouble thinking and writing simultaneously. Dysgraphia is a learning disability characterized by distorted and incorrect handwriting as well as issues with fine motor skills. Symptoms include problems learning to tie shoes, zip a jacket, write legibly (i.e. can't form letters properly), and avoiding coloring or other fine motor activities that most kids enjoy. Some children with Dysgraphia have strong verbal skills to compensate for their writing issues and are often good readers.

3. Dyscalculia

This LD affects your ability to understand number-based information and math. This may look like issues with counting upwards, doing simple calculations from memory, memorizing multiplication tables, organizing math problems and more. A learning disorder in math, also called dyscalculia, may cause problems with the following skills: Understanding how numbers work and relate to each other. Doing math problems. Learning basic math rules. Using math symbols. Understanding word problems. Organizing and recording information while solving a math problem. Dyscalculia encompasses learning disabilities related to mathematical calculations. Individuals with dyscalculia struggle with math concepts, numbers, and reasoning. Sometimes referred to as having “math dyslexia,” individuals might have difficulty reading clocks to tell time, counting money, identifying patterns, remembering math facts, and solving mental math. Dyscalculia is a disorder characterized by problems with learning fundamentals that include one or more basic numerical skills. Often people with this condition can understand very complex mathematical concepts but have difficulty processing formulas or basic addition and subtraction.

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4. Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)

In auditory processing disorder (APD), patients have difficulty processing sounds. Individuals with APD may confuse the order of sounds or be unable to filter different sounds, like a teacher’s voice versus background noise. In APD, the brain misinterprets the information received and processed from the ear.

5. Language Processing Disorder

A subset of auditory processing disorder, language processing disorder arises when an individual has specific challenges in processing spoken language, impacting both receptive and expressive language. According to the Learning Disabilities Association of America, in language processing disorder, “there is difficulty attaching meaning to sound groups that form words, sentences, and stories.”

6. Nonverbal Learning Disabilities (NVLD)

While it may sound like nonverbal learning disabilities (NVLD) relate to an individual’s inability to speak, it actually refers to difficulties in decoding nonverbal behaviors or social cues. NVLD sufferers struggle with understanding body language, facial expressions and tone of voice, or the nonverbal aspects of communication. Nonverbal learning disorders affect activities that don’t involve words or speech, like:

Problem-solving.
Visual-spatial tasks
Recognizing social cues.

The DSM-5-TR doesn’t currently recognize nonverbal LDs as a type of specific learning disorder. But research shows that about 5% of people with LDs have cognitive and academic difficulties associated with nonverbal LDs. Nonverbal learning disorders can affect:

Social abilities, like using social language (slang or informal language) or understanding facial expressions or body language.
Executive functioning, like planning, organizing and emotional regulation.
Visual-spatial awareness, which can cause issues with coordination.
Math skills, particularly comprehension of more advanced math topics.

Children with nonverbal learning disorders often have good basic language skills. They can excel at memorizing words too. But these children may have trouble with some skills that don't involve speaking, such as:

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Perceiving where objects are.
Understanding abstract concepts.
Reading people's emotions through facial expressions and other cues.
Moving the body, also called physical coordination. This type of trouble is known as dyspraxia.
Fine motor skills, such as writing. This issue may happen along with other learning disorders.
Paying attention, planning and organizing, as seen in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders (ADHD).
Understanding higher-level reading or writing tasks, often appearing in later grade school.

7. Visual Perceptual/Visual Motor Deficit

Individuals with visual perceptual/visual motor deficit exhibit poor hand-eye coordination, often lose their places when reading, and have difficulty with pencils, crayons, glue, scissors, and other fine motor activities. They may also confuse similar looking letters, have trouble navigating their surroundings, or demonstrate unusual eye activity when reading or completing assignments.

Dyspraxia (Apraxia)

Dyspraxia, also called Apraxia, is a condition characterized by a significant difficulty in carrying out routine tasks involving balance, fine-motor control, and kinesthetic coordination. Signs of the disorder in early childhood include not reaching developmental milestones on time as well as clumsy and uncoordinated movements. Verbal Dyspraxia describes a difficulty in the use of speech sounds, which may be the result of a developmental delay in the speech production area of the brain.

Prevalence of Learning Disabilities

Learning disabilities are relatively common. receive an LD diagnosis at some point in their lives. About 5% of school-aged children globally have LDs. Dyslexia is the most common. Learning disorders may affect as many as 1 in 5 people in the United States and can not only inhibit a person's ability to learn and communicate effectively, but can directly impact a person's self-esteem.

Signs and Symptoms of Learning Disorders

It can be hard to figure out that a child has a learning disorder. Some children have learning disorders for a long time before they are diagnosed. These children can have such a hard time in school that their self-esteem and drive to succeed goes down. That's why it's a good idea for parents to know the symptoms of learning disorders. The sooner you spot the symptoms, the faster you can help your child succeed. A learning disorder is present when the brain takes in and works with information in a way that is not typical. It keeps a person from learning a skill and using it well. People with learning disorders by and large have average or above-average intelligence. So, there's a gap between their expected skills, based on age and intelligence, and how they do in school. Common learning disorders affect a child's ability to:

Read.
Write.
Do math.
Use or understand language.
Socialize.
Learn other skills that don't involve words.

At times, all children have trouble learning and using academic skills. But when the symptoms last for at least six months and don't get better with help from adults, a child might have a learning disorder. The symptoms of a learning disorder in a child can include:

Not being able to master skills in reading, spelling, writing or math at or near the expected age and grade levels.
Trouble understanding and following instructions.
Problems remembering what someone just said.
Lacking coordination while walking, playing sports or doing things that use small muscles, such as holding a pencil.
Easily losing homework, schoolbooks or other items.
Trouble completing homework and assignments on time.
Acting out or having defiant, angry or large emotional reactions at school. Or, acting any of these ways while doing academic tasks such as homework or reading.

Specific Challenges Related to Academic Skills

Reading is based on understanding speech. Learning disorders with reading often are based on a child's trouble understanding a spoken word as a mix of distinct sounds. This can make it hard to understand how a letter or letters represent a sound and how letters make a word. Problems with short-term memory, also called working memory, can play a role. Even when basic reading skills are mastered, children may have trouble with the following skills:

Reading at a typical pace.
Understanding what they read.
Recalling correctly what they read.
Making conclusions based on their reading.
Spelling.

Writing requires complex skills that involve vision, movement and the ability to process information.

Children with speech and language disorders can have trouble using and understanding spoken or written words. They may have trouble:

Reading and writing.
Doing math word problems.
Following directions.
Answering questions.

A variety of speech and language disorders can affect kids. A few examples are:

Stuttering, which is trouble saying words or sentences in a way that flows smoothly.
Articulation errors, where there is difficulty forming certain words or sounds.
Childhood apraxia, which is trouble accurately moving the lips, jaw and tongue to speak.

Children with speech or language disorders often can understand and work well with visual information. They also can use visual cues well in social situations.

Potential Causes of Learning Disorders

Things that might play roles in learning disorders include:

Family history and genes. Having a blood relative, such as a parent, with a learning disorder raises the risk of a child having a disorder.
Risks before birth and shortly after. Learning disorders have been linked with poor growth in the uterus and exposure to alcohol or drugs before being born. Learning disorders also have been tied to being born too early and having a very low weight at birth.
Emotional trauma. This could involve a deeply stressful experience or emotional abuse. If either happens in early childhood, it may affect how the brain develops and raise the risk of learning disorders.
Physical trauma. Head injuries or nervous system illnesses might play a role in the development of learning disorders.
Poisonous substances. Exposure to high levels of toxins, such as lead, has been linked to a larger risk of learning disorders.

Seeking Help and Treatment Options

Early treatment is key, because the problem can grow. A child who doesn't learn to add numbers in elementary school won't be able to do algebra in high school. Children who have learning disorders also can have:

Anxiety about their grades.
Depression.
Low self-esteem.
Tiredness.
Less motivation.

Some children might act out to distract attention from their challenges at school. If you suspect your child has trouble learning, you can ask the school to check for a learning disorder. Or you can get a private evaluation outside of the school system. A child's teacher, parents or guardian, and healthcare professional are some of the people who can request an evaluation.

Your child will likely first have a general physical exam that checks for vision, hearing or other medical problems that can make learning harder. Often, a child will have a series of exams done by a team of professionals, including a:

Psychologist.
Special education teacher.
Occupational therapist.
Social worker or nurse.
Speech and language specialist.

These professionals work together to decide whether a child's trouble meets the definition of a learning disorder. They also figure out what special-education services are needed if the child has a disorder.

The team bases its decisions on:

The results of tests.
Teacher feedback.
Input from the parents or guardians.
A review of how the child does in school.

A child's healthcare professional also might do tests to look for mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression and ADHD. These mental health conditions can contribute to delays in academic skills. For example, some children with ADHD struggle to finish classwork and homework. But ADHD might not necessarily cause them to have trouble learning academic skills. Instead, it may cause them to have a hard time performing those skills. Many children have ADHD along with a learning disorder.

If your child has a learning disorder, your child's healthcare team or school might suggest:

Extra help. A reading specialist, math tutor or other trained professional can teach your child ways to do schoolwork, study and get organized.
Individualized education program (IEP). This written plan sets learning goals and describes the special-education services your child needs. Public schools develop IEPs for students whose challenges meet the school system's guidelines for a learning disorder. In some countries, IEPs are called individual education plans.
Changes in the classroom. These are also known as accommodations. For instance, some students with learning disorders get more time to complete work or tests. They may be asked to do fewer math problems in assignments. And they may get seated near their teachers to boost attention. Some students are allowed to use gadgets. These could include calculators to help solve math problems and programs that turn text into speech you can hear. The school also might be willing to provide audiobooks to listen to while reading along with a physical copy.
Therapy. Different types of therapy may help. Occupational therapy might improve writing problems. A speech-language therapist can help with language skills.
Medicine. Your child's healthcare professional might suggest medicine to treat depression or anxiety. Medicines for ADHD may help a child's ability to focus in school.
Complementary and alternative treatments. More research is needed to find out if these treatments work for learning disorders. They include diet changes, use of vitamins, eye exercises and a treatment that works with brain waves called neurofeedback.

Your child's treatment plan will likely change over time. You always can ask the school for more special-education services or classroom changes. If your child has an IEP, review it with the school at least every year. Your child may need less treatment or fewer learning aids over time.

The Role of Educators and Psychology Professionals

As a teacher, you want all of your students to reach their academic potential. However, not everyone learns at the same pace or in the same way. "When you understand how students with learning differences process information, you gain a clearer understanding of all students," said Dr. Tanguay holds a PhD in Educational Leadership and has experience as a teacher, headmaster and education director in New Hampshire school districts. "When we are prepared to recognize (students') needs and empower their strengths, we help shape confident, capable individuals far beyond the classroom," he said. "While only certified professionals can formally diagnose a learning disability, teachers are often the first to notice key signs," Tanguay said. Struggling to do or understand something can be frustrating or embarrassing. "Teachers should pay attention to social-emotional cues like low self-esteem, frustration or acting out when facing challenges," Tanguay said. Teaching someone with a learning disability starts with recognizing that education isn't one-size-fits-all. "Differentiated Instruction is a responsive approach where teachers adjust their methods, materials and assessments to meet individual student needs," he said.

Understanding learning disabilities is critical to all with careers in psychology. When psychology professionals understand the neurodiversity and learning differences of their patients, they become more inclusive, empathetic, and effective contributors to the populations they serve.

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