Learning Disabilities

Summary

What is a learning disability?

Learning disabilities are conditions that affect the ability to learn. They can cause problems with:

• Understanding what people are saying
• Speaking
• Reading
• Writing
• Doing math
• Paying attention

Often, children have more than one kind of learning disability. They may also have another condition, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which can make learning even more of a challenge.

What causes learning disabilities?

Learning disabilities don’t have anything to do with intelligence. They are caused by differences in the brain, and they affect the way the brain processes information. These differences are usually present at birth. But there are certain factors that can play a role in the development of a learning disability, including:

• Genetics
• Environmental exposures (such as lead)
• Problems during pregnancy (such as the mother’s drug use)

How do I know if my child has a learning disability?

The earlier you can find and treat a learning disability, the better. Unfortunately, learning disabilities are usually not recognized until a child is in school. If you notice that your child is struggling, talk to your child’s teacher or health care provider about an evaluation for a learning disability. The evaluation may include a medical exam, a discussion of family history, and intellectual and school performance testing.

What are the treatments for learning disabilities?

The most common treatment for learning disabilities is special education. A teacher or other learning specialist can help your child learn skills by building on strengths and finding ways to make up for weaknesses. Educators may try special teaching methods, make changes to the classroom, or use technologies that can assist your child’s learning needs. Some children also get help from tutors or speech or language therapists.

A child with a learning disability may struggle with low self-esteem, frustration, and other problems. Mental health professionals can help your child understand these feelings, develop coping tools, and build healthy relationships.

If your child has another condition such as ADHD, he or she will need treatment for that condition as well.

NIH: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Genetics

• 47,XYY syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Aarskog-Scott syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Smith-Kingsmore syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Triple X syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine

Encyclopedia

• Aarskog syndrome Medical Encyclopedia

Start Here

• About Learning Disabilities Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
• Learning Disabilities National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
• Learning Disorders American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• Learning Disorders Can Make It Hard for a Child to Read, Write or Do Simple Math. Know the Symptoms and Find Out What You Can Do. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• What Are Some Signs of Learning Disabilities? Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Dyslexia National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Learning Disabilities National Institutes of Health

Patient Handouts

• Developmental reading disorder Medical Encyclopedia
• Dysgraphia Medical Encyclopedia
• Mathematics disorder Medical Encyclopedia

Specifics

• Dysgraphia National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
• Dyslexia National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
• Gerstmann’s Syndrome National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
• What Are Reading Disorders? Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

Statistics and Research

• Estimated Prevalence of Children with Diagnosed Developmental Disabilities in the United States, 2014-2016 National Center for Health Statistics
• NICHD Learning Disabilities Research Information Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

Diagnosis and Tests

• How Are Learning Disabilities Diagnosed? Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

Living With

• How Learning Problems Are Managed American Academy of Pediatrics

Related Issues

• Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) (For Parents) Nemours Foundation

Symptoms

• Keeping Up in School? Identifying Learning Problems National Institutes of Health

Teenagers

• Learning Disabilities and ADHD Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health
• Understanding Dyslexia Nemours Foundation

Children

• Learning Problems Nemours Foundation

Find an Expert

• National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Journal Articles

• Learning Disabilities

Treatments and Therapies

• What Are the Treatments for Learning Disabilities? Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development