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Learning Disabilities Facts
Introduction
- What
are Learning Disabilities?
Learning disabilities are disorders that affect the
ability to understand or use spoken or written language, do mathematical
calculations, coordinate movements, or direct attention. Although learning
disabilities occur in very young children, the disorders are usually not
recognized until the child reaches school age.
Is
there any treatment?
The most common treatment for learning disabilities is
special education. Specially trained educators may perform a diagnostic
educational evaluation assessing the child's academic and intellectual potential
and level of academic performance. Once the evaluation is complete, the basic
approach is to teach learning skills by building on the child's abilities and
strengths while correcting and compensating for disabilities and weaknesses.
Other professionals such as speech and language therapists also may be involved.
Some medications may be effective in helping the child learn by enhancing
attention and concentration. Psychological therapies may also be used.
What
is the prognosis?
Learning disabilities can be lifelong conditions. In
some people, several overlapping learning disabilities may be apparent. Other
people may have a single, isolated learning problem that has little impact on
their lives
What research
is being done?
The NINDS and other institutes of the National
Institutes of Health including the National Institute of Child Health and Human
Development, the National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication
Disorders, and the National Institute of Mental Health support research on
learning disabilities. Current research avenues focus on developing techniques
to diagnose and treat learning disabilities and increase understanding of the
biological basis of learning disabilities.
This
information is available courtesy of the National Institute of Neurological
Disorders and Stroke. It is in the public domain and can be downloaded, reproduced,
or copied without permission. For more information go to
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/health_and_medical/disorder_index.htm
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