LEARNING DISABILITIES

Dr. Kaveri Chauhan

International Psychologist,
American Psychological Association
Karnal,Haryana, India
E- Psychologist- Dr. Lybrate 
Former Assistant Professor,  Applied Psychology, GU, Delhi NCR
Governing Council Member ( http://www.rfsdelhi.in/)
JRF at (http://rac.gov.in/) DRDO, Ministry of Defence (India)
Contact. +91-8800819321, 
E-Mail: drkaverichauhan@gmail.com
Specific Learning Disability
• “Specific learning disability" means a disorder in one or
more of the basic psychological process involved in
understanding or in using language, spoken or written,
which disorder may manifest itself in the imperfect ability
to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell or do
mathematical calculations.
• It includes such conditions as perceptual disabilities, brain
injury, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia, dyspraxia,
dyscalculia, dysgraphia and development aphasia, but
does not include a learning problem that is primarily the
result of visual, hearing or motor disabilities, of mental
retardation, of emotional disturbance, or of environmental,
cultural or economic disadvantages.
DYSPRAXIA
DYSGRAPHIA
DYSCALCULIA
DYSLEXIA
 DEVELOPMENTAL APHASIA

•Speak in short or incomplete sentences.

•Speak in sentences that don't make
sense.
•Substitute one word for another or one
sound for another.
•Speak unrecognizable words.
•Have difficulty finding words.
•Not understand other people's
conversation.
•Not understand what they read.
•Write sentences that don't make sense.
(a) "dyscalculia" means a learning disability characterized by difficulty in mathematics;
(b) "dysgraphia" means a learning disability characterized by difficulty with the act of
writing both in the technical as well as the expressive sense including difficulty
with spelling;
(c) "dyslexia" means a learning disability that affects a person's ability to acquire,
process and use either spoken, written or nonverbal information including
organization and planning, functional literacy skills, memory, reasoning, problem
solving and perceptual skills or in other words, difficulty with language in its
various uses including reading;
(d) "dyspraxia" means a learning disability that affects the person's ability to plan
motor tasks and to make an appropriate body response ;
 Role of the school

• Where a child is suspected with specific learning disability, a detailed

evaluation of the child including his socio-economic background and family
background shall be conducted and the child may be referred

• Where a child is detected with a specific learning disability, and

Individualised Education Plan shall be formulated for the child depending
on the specific needs of the child by a team consisting of the Principal of
the school, the class teacher of the child, another teacher, counsellor, the
parents of the child and the child himself.

• The individualized Education Plan shall be periodically revised, and the

progress of the child shall be closely monitored in terms of attainment
levels and completion of education.
 Concessions

(a) twenty five per cent extra time for completion of the examination paper;
(b) facility of scribe when necessary;
(c) oral test along with written tests up to Class IX and promotion based on the
average of both;
(d) relaxation in standards of Arithmetic per the level of the child; (e) use of
calculators;
(f) disregard the errors of interchanging of computation signs and number
reversal;
(g) exemption from second and third language;
(h) availability of alternate subjects like home since, electronics etc.;
(i) disregard of spelling or grammar errors and incorrect sentence construction;
(j) disregard of direction errors in geography and other subjects;
(k) exemption from diagrams, charts and graphs; and
(l) such other concessions as may be prescribed.
 SLDs Interfere With
• Acquisition of skills: reading, written
expression, oral expression, or math
• Executive skills such as organization,
time management, planning, attention,
memory, analysis skills
• Can affect social interaction and
relationships with others
• But have average or above average IQ
levels
 Summary
• Every child has a unique profile of strengths
and weaknesses depending on the learning
disorder and/or combination of learning
disorders
• There are many strategies to assist each
student in finding success in school and life
• Contact your school to request an evaluation if
you suspect your child has a learning disorder
• Communication between parents, school
personnel and outside practitioners is essential
 Re/Sources
• L. Kosc. "Developmental Dyscalculia," Journal of Learning Disabilities, vol. 7, pp. 164-77,
1974.
• http://www.lexercise.com/tests/learning-disability-test

• NCLD Editorial Team. “What is Dyscalculia?” NCLD.org

• http://www.ncld.org/types-learning-disabilities/dyscalculia/what-is-dyscalculia
• NCLD Editorial Team. “6 Important Facts to Know About Math Learning Disabilities.”
• NCLD.org http://www.ncld.org/types-learning-disabilities/dyscalculia
• Spear-Swerling, Louise. “Components of Effective Mathematic Instruction.”Ldonline.
(2005).Web.5 Oct. 2013. http://www.ldonline.org/article/5588
• U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics(2012). Digest of
Education Statistics, 2011 (NCES 2012-001), Chapter 2.
• “What is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder-ADHD?” NIMH-NIH.gov. Web. 3 Oct. 2013.
• http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd/
index.shtml
• Information for the Processing Disorders/ADHD Chart:
• Madell, Jane. “Practical Strategies for More Effectively Diagnosing & Managing Auditory
Processing Disorders,” Medina: Institute for Educational Development,2011.
www.JaneMadell.com
 Re/Sources Continued
Brown, Thomas. “Understanding Attention Deficit: The New
ADHD.” AdditudeMag.com. 3 Oct 2013.
http://www.additudemag.com/slideshow/28/slide-7.html
Structural Brain Differences in Kids with Dyslexia
http://www.greatschools.org/special-education/LD-ADHD
Organizing Your Child/Helping with Study Skills
http://www.ldaofgreaterbaltimore.com
Contact the Parenting Center in your state for info on evaluation
http://www.parentcenternetwork.org/parentcenterlisting
Helpful information about LD
http://www.helpguide.org/mental/learning_disabilities.htm
U.S. Department of Education IDEA website
http://idea.ed.gov/explore/home