Info Sheet

Learning Disabilities: what are they?

Learning disability is 'a disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using language, spoken or written, which may manifest itself in an imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell, or to do mathematical calculations. This term does not include children who have problems that are primarily the result of visual, hearing or motor disabilities, or mental retardation, emotional disturbance, or of environmental, cultural or economic disadvantage. Learning disabilities can result in a behavior disorder at home as well as in a classroom situation.

Some definitions
Attention Deficit Disorder A severe difficulty in focussing and maintaining attention. Often leads to learning and behaviour problems at home, school and work. Also called Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Emotional / Behavior Disorder A disability characterized by behavioral or emotional responses in school so different from appropriate age, cultural, or ethnic norms that they adversely affect education performance, including academic, social, vocational and personal skills. Dyspraxia A severe difficulty in performing drawing, writing, buttoning and other tasks requiring fine motor skill, or in sequencing the necessary movements. Dyscalculia A severe difficulty in understanding and using symbols or functions needed for success in mathematics. Dyslexia A severe difficulty in understanding or using one or more areas of language, including listening, speaking, reading, writing and spelling. Dysgraphia A severe difficulty in producing handwriting that is legible and written at ageappropriate speed. Dysnomia A marked difficulty in remembering names or recalling words needed for oral or written language. Echolalia A disorder of speech where there is an involuntary repetition several times of the same word. May occur immediately after the phrases have been said, or may be delayed and occur some time later. Speech Disorders Difficulties in producing speech sounds or problems with voice quality. They might be characterized by an interruption in the flow or rhythm of speech, such as stuttering, which is called dysfluency. Specific Language Disability A severe difficulty in some form of listening, speaking, reading, writing or spelling, while skills in the other areas are age-appropriate. Language Disorder An impairment in the ability to understand and/or use words in context, both verbally and nonverbally. Some characteristics of language disorders include improper use of words and their meanings, inability to express ideas, inappropriate grammatical patterns, reduced vocabulary and inability to follow directions. Learned Helplessness A tendency to be a passive learner depends on others for decisions guidance. In individuals with continued struggles and failures heighten this lack of self-confidence. Autism A developmental disorder affecting children from birth or the early months of life. It results in delay in, and deviance from, the normal patterns of development. These occur in three areas of behaviors: social relationships and interactions, language and communication, activities and interests. Mental Retardation Substantial limitations in present functioning, characterized by significantly sub-average intellectual functioning, existing concur rently with related limitations in two or more of the following applicable adaptive skill areas: communication, self-care, home living, social skills, community use, self direction, health and safety, functional academics, leisure and work. Cerebral Palsy A neurology disorder resulting in lack control of muscle movements, such as spasticity, hypotonicity, athetosis, ataxia, muscular dystrophy, hip dysplasia, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Down Syndrome The most common and readily identifiable chromosomal condition associated with mental retardation. It is caused by a chromosomal abnormality: for some unexplained reason, an accident in cell development results in 47 instead of the usual 46 chromosomes. This extra chromosome changes the orderly development of the body and brain.

who and LD, can

The materials for this info sheet is taken from various resources. Please contact ICSCE for details.

International Center for Special Care in Education

Jl. Jati Padang Utara no. 8 B - Pejaten - Jakarta 12540 Tel. +62 21 780 7313 ~ Fax. +62 21 7884 4313 special_care@cbn.net.id