Learning Disabilities

1. Learning Disabilities
Definition, Types, Causes, Implications and Treatment

2. Definition
 Disorder in which children with average or
above average cognitive ability demonstrate
significantly lowered achievements in reading,
spelling, written language, mathematics and/or
language skills.
 These children with LD have difficulty with
information processes because of perceptual,
memory, attentional and language defects.

3.  Incidence of learning disabilities is approximately 10-15
percent of school age children. Specific reading and
written language disorders (dyslexia) are more common
than specific mathematics disorder (dyscalculia) or hand
writing disorder (dysgraphia).

4. Causes
 Experience lowered self esteem, anxiety, and behavior problems due
to their disappointing school performance.
Implications
 Differences in neurological processing
 Often seen in a member of the child’s extended family
occur in specific chromosomal disorders (Fragile X, Turners
Syndrome)
 Following traumatic brain injury
 History of recurrent ear infections
Diagnosis
 Clinical setting done by professionals as appropriate
 Efforts must be made towards providing a fair and accurate childs
profile, strengths, deficits and individual educational needs

5. Treatment approaches
 It is not cured but they can be taught more effectively with
particular methods.
 Specific educational interventions for academic skills like
multi-sensory phonic methods fro reading and spelling.
 Direct treatment of perceptual deficits
 Language therapy
 Computer as a valuable tool
 Stimulant medications for problems caused by problems
with attention and concentration

6. Attention Deficit
Disorder (ADD) and
Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder
(ADHD)
Definitions, Cause

7. Definition
 ADD and ADHD are thought to be neurochemical disorders
that interfere with attention.
 Impulsivity and difficulty of focus
Indications
 Children with either ADD or ADHD have a difficult time playing
attention and are easily distracted by any stimuli around them.
 They are also hyperactive and restless
 Have poor impulse control
 Prone to outbursts of anger and aggression, emotionally labile and
immature

8. Implications, The disorder, specially not treated can:
 Genetic
 Central nervous system diseases
 Prental drug exposure
 Serious emotional disturbances
Causes
 Impede professional achievement, disrupt social relationships and promote
risky behavior.
 Boys with ADD are much more likely to be hyperactive than girls
 For many children, hyperactivity symptoms diminish in adolescence but
the attentional deficits persists into adulthood causing disappointing
school performance and poor vocational adjustment.

9. Diagnosis
 Suspected children having ADD or ADHD has different
diagnosis and is imperative for treatment planning since
the symptoms may be due to severe anxiety and not to
ADD.
 Should be conducted by a qualified health care
professional.
 Depends heavily on observational data in addition to
psychometric testing.
 The role of the parent, caseworker, teacher or foster
parent is critical.
 Necessitates a family and environmental history to assess
the presence of exacerbating conditions.

10. Behavioral Management
of ADD/ADHD

11. Environmental
 Occurs both in school and at home
 Structured, low stimulus and predictable are critical
 Individualized attention with unequivocal directions and
immediate concrete rewards and consequences are
helpful.
 Benefit from individualized educational planning.
Pharmacological
 Usually involves prescriptions usually involves prescription
of central nervous system stimulants such as retalin.
 Require careful physician supervision.

12.  Individual group psychotherapy may also be
helpful for developing self awareness,
relationship skills, and improving the self-esteem
of children who have experienced chronic school
and/or peer group failure.
 Metacognitive strategies for monitoring attention,
persistence and on task behaviors can also be
taught in individual therapy sessions by specially
trained school personnel.

13. Symptoms of AD/HD
-Dr. Harlan Gephart
 Restlessness as evidenced by fidgeting with hands or feet
 Leaving his seat when remaining seated is expected
 Running about or climbing when remaining seated
 Being “on the go” or often acting as if “driven by a motor”
 Blurting out answers before questions are completed
 Difficulty waiting for his turn
 Interrupting or intruding on others’ conversations and/or activities
 Not paying attention to details or making careless mistakes
 Difficulty paying attention to what needs to be done
 Seeming not to listen when spoken to directly
 Not following through when given directions and failing to finish activities

14.  Early intervention (Dr. Gephart)
 Treatment can be a combination of behavior
therapy and stimulant drugs
 Importance of parent advocacy (sandy Malone
long)
 Modifying curriculum, teaching methods,
resources, and learning activities
 Parents must give structures in lives of their
children by routines and schedules
 Chronic exposure to technology contributes to the
risk of ADHD

15. Diagnostic Criteria for ADD/ADHD
(inattention)
 Failure to pay attention to details or careless mistakes
 Difficulty sustaining attention
 Does not seem to listen when spoken to directly
 Does not follow through on instructions
 Difficulty organizing tasks and activities
 Avoids/dislikes tasks requiring sustained mental effort
 Loses items necessary for tasks or activities
 Easily distracted by extraneous stimuli
 Forgetful in daily activities

16. Hyperactivity- impulsivity
 Fidgets or squirm in seat
 Gets up from seat when sitting is expected
 Inappropriately moves about, or has feelings of restlessness
 Difficulty playing or engaging in leisure activities quietly
 Always “on the go” or ”driven by a motor”
 Talk excessively
 Blurts out answers before questions have been completed
 Difficulty waiting turn
 Interrupts or intrudes on others
Show some symptoms before seven
Shows some impairment in two or more settings
Significant impairment in work, school or social life

17. Autism
Definition, causes and symptoms

18. Definition
 A complex behavioral syndrome that first manifests during
childhood, usually between the ages of one and four years old.
Causes
 Genetic factors, however does not explain fully the etiology of
autism.
 Environmental factors during prenatal and perinatal period.
 “Refrigerator mother”

19. Symptoms
 Limited language
 Communication and imaginative play
 Narrow range of interests and activities
• Symptoms can change over time
• Also involve widespread brain changes
• Common feature: reluctance to interact with
other people
• Fear of socializing