What is the difference between learning disability and learning disorder?
Learning difficulties are problems with reading, writing and/or maths. Show
Learning disorders are specific, serious and ongoing problems with reading, writing and/or maths, which are diagnosed by health professionals. Dyslexia, dysgraphia and dyscalculia are examples of learning disorders. ‘Learning disorder’ is the term that health professionals use when they’re diagnosing a specific problem with reading, writing and/or maths. Some people use ‘learning disability’. These terms mean more or less the same thing. Learning difficulties and early signs of learning disordersLearning difficulties and early signs of learning disorders are often picked up in the first two years of school, when children start classroom-based learning in reading, writing and maths. If your school-age child has learning difficulties or a learning disorder, you might notice that they:
If your child has early learning difficulties, it doesn’t automatically mean they have a learning disorder. Some children take longer than others to develop literacy and numeracy skills. Or there might be other things that make it hard for children – for example, they’ve missed a lot of school or they have hearing or vision problems. Worried about learning difficulties or learning disorders: what to doIf you think your child is having early difficulties with reading, writing and maths, it’s important to get these problems checked out early. There are several things you can do. 1. Talk with your child’s teacher When you talk with the teacher, you can ask:
The teacher or support staff can assess your child for difficulties with reading, writing and maths and go through the results with you. This can help you see whether there’s a problem. 2. See your GP Your GP might refer you to another health professional like a paediatrician, psychologist, speech pathologist or audiologist for further assessment and tests. These professionals can help you work out whether there are other things that are making it hard for your child to learn – for example, problems with sight, hearing, language development, or attention and focus. 3. Ask about school-based skills programs These programs might include one-on-one or small-group work with a learning support officer. This kind of support can help your child learn concepts and practise skills at a pace that suits them. 4. Ask for a formal assessment for learning disorders If there’s a long wait or the school can’t arrange the assessment, you can see a specialist for a private assessment. You’ll have to pay for this assessment. Depending on where you live, you could contact a local university. Most universities have psychology clinics where postgraduate students (who are supervised by experts) assess children for learning disorders. For more information about assessment, you can also try contacting your nearest AUSPELD state association. Specialised learning support for children with learning disordersIf your child is diagnosed with a learning disorder, it’s important to get support for your child as soon as possible. With this support, your child can improve their skills and start to make good progress with their learning. This will help your child stay engaged with school and learning. The best support for your child will depend on your child’s learning disorder. You can talk to your child’s teacher or other professionals working with your child to find out what will work best for your child and your family. At school, support might include:
Outside school, you could look into support like specialist coaching or tutoring in your child’s specific areas of difficulty. It’s also a good idea to ask your child’s teacher and other professionals what you can do to support your child’s learning. For example, the teacher or other professionals can probably suggest books to suit your child’s reading ability or give you tips for reading with your child. Or there might be literacy and maths software programs or apps that can reinforce what your child is learning at school. Your child might have difficulties like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or language problems, which are contributing to their learning disorder. If so, your health professionals will work with you and your child on a plan to address these difficulties too. When you’re choosing therapies or supports for your child, look for ones that are backed by scientific evidence. Therapies or supports that haven’t been scientifically tested might not be worth your money and time. It’s always a good idea to talk to a professional to get reliable advice about therapies and supports. Supporting children with learning difficulties and learning disordersWhen your child feels good about themselves, they’ll be better able to deal with learning and other challenges. Here are some ideas to help with this:
You can help your child feel good about themselves by building their confidence, resilience and self-compassion. Find out how in our articles on resilience for children, self-compassion for children, self-esteem for children, resilience for pre-teens and teenagers, self-compassion for pre-teens and teenagers and confidence for pre-teens and teenagers. Causes of learning disordersWe don’t yet fully understand what causes learning disorders. It’s likely that the causes vary among children. Some learning disorders might happen because parts of a child’s brain have difficulty processing information. They might also happen if a child has difficulty staying focused and maintaining attention in class – for example, if they have a condition that affects their behaviour, like ADHD. In other children, language problems can contribute to learning disorders. A learning disorder is an accepted disability under the Australian Disability Discrimination Act. Your child has the right to the same educational opportunities as other students. You can read more in our articles on disability law in Australia, anti-discrimination law in Australia and educational rights for children with disabilities. What is the difference between disorder and disability?A disorder is a medical condition that may or may not give rise to disability depending on its severity. Disability is the functional disadvantage suffered by a person affected by that condition.
What is a learning disorder?Having a learning disorder means that a child has difficulty in one or more areas of learning, even when overall intelligence or motivation is not affected. Some of the symptoms of learning disorders are. Difficulty telling right from left. Reversing letters, words, or numbers, after first or second grade.
What are the 4 major types of learning disabilities?Learning disabilities usually fall within four broad categories:. Spoken language-listening and speaking.. Written language-reading, writing, and spelling.. Arithmetic-calculation and concepts.. Reasoning-organization and integration of ideas and thoughts.. What kind of disorder is a learning disability?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.
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