Learning Disability : Meaning, Features And Types

• What is Learning Disability ?

Learning disability refers to the lack or absence of ability to learn. for learning disabilities Morgan (1896) call 'Blindness', Birk (1957) 'Effects of cerebral dominance on learning', Samuel Kirk (1962) 'Learning disabilities' and Johnson and Michael (1967) 'Nervous disorders' word used.

The term learning disability was first used by Samuel Kirk in 1962. Kirk defined learning disability as retarded, deformed or stunted development in any one or more of speech, language, reading, writing or arithmetic operations etc.

Learning disability is defined as a situation where there is a clear difference between the individual's ability and achievement. This difference is probably neurological.

Samuel Kirk said that learning disabilities are not just educational deficiencies. It is a set of characteristics such as minimal brain damage, problems with reading skills, hyperactivity, etc. A child who suffers from all these qualities combined is a child with learning disabilities.

Learning disabilities children are found to be lagging behind in academic achievement levels, despite having close to average IQs.

 These children have defects like thinking, understanding, listening, contemplating, remembering, training and imitation. Due to which various difficulties related to academic performance have to be faced.

Note - Problems related to academic performance - writing, reading, copying, language and speech defects, difficulty understanding mathematical concepts.

Note - Learning disabilities are not cause to a person's mental illness, economic status and cultural background.

• Characteristics and Symptoms of Learning Disability

1. Learning disabilities are intrinsic.

2. Its form is permanent, that is, it can remain in a particular person for life.

3. It is a group of distortions.

4. Learning disabilities are a biological problem associated with dysfunction of the central nervous system.

5. Learning disability is a psychological problem.

6. Learning disability is not recognized legally in India and learning disability is not taken as a basis in the census. It is not included in the 7 types of disability mentioned in the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Rights, Protection and Full Participation) Act 1995.

7. Clear distinction between ability and achievement.

8. The normal functioning of the brain is not disrupted.

• Characteristics of children with learning disabilities

Identification of a child with learning disability

1. Such children are of average or below average IQ score.

2. Such children have the ability to think and reason a little less than normal and normal.

3. Average schools perform lower than above method.

4. These types of children have performance difficulties.

5. Learning disabled children act without thinking.

6. do not behave appropriately.

7. Children with learning disabilities lack decision making and are careless with themselves.

8. Such children are easily distracted from the goal.

9. Such children have an attraction towards normal sounds and visuals.

10. Poor memory power is found in such children.

11. Such children are not involved in co-curricular activities.

12. The inability to remain calm and still in the same position is found.

13. Emotional instability is found in such children.

14. Do not participate in other activities without outside interference.

15. It takes more than one effort to do even a normal task.

16. In such children, there is a hindrance in the motor activities.

17. Perceptional defects are found in such children.

18. Frequent change in mood i.e. mood swings.

• What are the major causes of learning disability

1. heredity

2. prenatal fact

3. brain structure defec

4. environmental facto

5. biological fact

6. cognitive process approach

• 10 Types of Learning Disabilities

Following are the 10 main types of learning disabilities :

1. Dyslexia (reading disorder)

2. Dysgraphia (writing disorder)

3. Dyscalculia (mathematical skill related disorder)

4. Dysphasia (speech disorder)

5. Dyspraxia (writing and drawing disorders, learning disabilities in motor skills)

6. Dysarthographia (spelling disorder)

7. Aphasia (auditory processing disorder) (hearing disorder)

8. Hyperlexia (Visual Perception Disorder)

9. Sensory integration and processing disorder

10. Organizational Learning Disorder

1. Dyslexia (Reading Disorder)

Literal meaning of dyslexia - Difficult Language

Another name of dyslexia - word blindness

Discovery - German eye specialist Rudolf Berlin (1887)

Causes of Dyslexia - Cause to differences in genes and brain functions

Symptoms of dyslexia :

1. It affects the written, oral and linguistic proficiency of the language.

2. In this, the child omitted the vowels while reading.

3. Reads the words in reverse or the sequence of letters back and forth e.g. eye to ear or papaya to yapaya.

4. The same pronunciation does not recognize the sound.

Test for Dyslexia Detection :

1. Board Test of Reading - Spelling Pattern (1973) - by Elena Bode

2. Dyslexia Early Screening Test - In India

3. Dyslexia Screening Test - In India

Treatment of Dyslexia - complete treatment of dyslexia (reading disorder) impossible. The level can be improved by proper teaching-learning.

2. Dysgraphia (Writing Disorder)

Symptoms of Dysgraphia :

1. Writing ability affected 

2. Spelling related difficulties, bad handwriting

3. Talking to Yourself While Writing

4. Difficulty recording one's own thoughts

5. Incomplete letter or word writing

6. Unreadable handwriting

7. Write above and below lines and leave more space between words.

8. Catching the pen too close from the paper

9. Spelling words writting with irregular forms and shapes with misspellings

Treatment of Dysgraphia : Get more and more practice of writing.

3. Dyscalculia (Mathematical Skill Disorder)

Another Name of Dyscalculia - Developmental Mathematical Problem

Symptoms of Dyscalculia :

1. Difficulty in understanding arithmetic operations

2. Extract incorrect results of arithmetic operations.

3. Using fingers to count

4. Lack of direction knowledge

5. Afraid to pay cash

6. Difficulty making time table

Causes of Dyscalculia :

1. Function malformation of brain cortex gland

2. Lack of working memory

3. Lack of logical thinking ability

Treatment of Dyscalculia : By adopting proper teaching-learning method. Learning disabilities in mathematics can be assessed appropriately by diagnostic testing.

4. Dysphasia (Speech Disorder)

Literal meaning of Dysphasia (Greek) : speech disability

Symptoms of Dysphasia : Difficulty in thinking and expressing

Cause of Dysphasia : Brain Damage.

5. Dyspraxia (Writing and Drawing Disorders)

Symptoms of Dyspraxia : Children find it difficult to write and draw pictures.

6. Aphasia (Auditory Processing Disorder) (Hearing Disorder)

Symptoms of Aphasia :

1. In this, children find it difficult to pronounce pure pronunciation exactly the same way.

2. Vowel sound have difficulty recognizing and distinguishing and repeating.

3. Have hearing related disorders, pronunciation defects, find it difficult to study in a language other than the mother tongue.

• Methods for the Treatment of Learning Disabilities

1. Practical Guidance Method (Stefenser 1970)

2. Cognitive behavioral modification

3. Individualized Educational Program (IEP)

• Frequently Asked Question (FAQ)

• Q. 01. What is learning disability ?

  Ans. Learning disability is the lack or absence of ability to learn. In this, there is a clear difference between the ability and achievement of a person.

• Q. 02. What is a learning disability in motor skills called ?

  Ans. Learning disability in motor skills is called dyspraxia. Under this, there are disorders related to writing and drawing (skill and creative) in the child.
• Q.03. What is the disability of reading called ?

  Ans. The inability to read is called dyslexia. Dyslexia affects written, oral and linguistic skills of language. In this, the student omitte the vowel letters while reading and the words reverse or the sequence of letters back and forth.
• Q. 04. What is dyscalculia ?

  Ans. Dyscalculia is a disorder of mathematical skills. Difficulty understanding arithmetic operations, Extracts incorrect results of arithmetic operations.
• Q. 05. What is the disability of reading and writing called ?

  Ans. The disability to read is called dyslexia and the disability to write is called dysgraphia.
• Q. 06. What are the causes of reading disability ?

  Ans. Reading disability is caused by differences in a person's genes and brain functions.
• Q. 07. What is Aphasia ?

  Ans. A person with aphasia has a hearing disorder. It includes correct pronunciation, recognition of sound, defects in pronunciation, etc. Due to which the person is not able to communicate properly.

Also Read :

1. What is Art Integrated Learning

2. 10 Maxims of Teaching

3. 8 Types of Learning According To Gagne