Learning disabilities are a group of disorders that all affect the way that an individual learns. There are a large number of learning disabilities that can affect the way that you read, write, listen, see numbers or see letters, or even speak. Despite old myths, learning disabilities have absolutely nothing to do with intelligence level. Often patients with learning disabilities have normal intelligence, but just learn a little differently than their peers.
Dyslexia is one of the most well-known learning disabilities around the world. It is a language processing disorder in which your brain flips letters and sounds while reading. Dyslexia can affect how someone reads and writes, and can even affect your comprehension skills. Severe dyslexia is usually found quickly once a child is learning to read, but mild dyslexia can go unnoticed for years.
Dysgraphia is a form of dyslexia that leads to poor writing and drawing skills. People who struggle with dysgraphia have issues translating their thoughts into written word. The key component of dysgraphia is poor handwriting. People with this disorder often have issues with letter spacing and poor spatial awareness when they write.
Language processing disorders can lead to issues with reading (such as dyslexia) or with comprehension. Overall, language processing disorders lead to difficulty processing spoken language. People with this disorder often have difficulties following conversations and having conversations. They struggle with remembering things that they have been told, and often do not find meaning in spoken words.
Auditory processing disorders occur when a person cannot filter out different sounds in their environment. For example, people with this disorder may not be able to tell the difference between their friend speaking to them and the background music playing in a restaurant. To them, the two separate sounds mesh together and they cannot process the sounds easily. This disorder often leads to poor memory and poor comprehension skills.
Visual deficits can lead to poor hand eye coordination and difficulty with fine motor skills such as holding a pencil or writing. They often have good vision, but cannot process what they are seeing and the space around them. People with visual deficit disorders confuse similar looking letters, may have spatial awareness issues, and fine motor concerns.
Learning disabilities are typically caused by both genetic and environmental factors that lead to an alteration in your brain’s ability to function in certain circumstances. With a learning disability, you may have difficulties processing certain letters or numbers, or issues with executive function such as organization, time management, or even memory. If you have a learning disability, it does not mean that you have a less than normal intelligence level, but you may need extra classes or extra training in how to best deal with your disability. Finding the right diagnosis and getting learning help can be the first step to succeeding in education and succeeding in your future job.