Specific+Learning+Disability

A person with dyslexia can have problems in any of the tasks involved in reading. However, scientists found that a significant number of people with dyslexia share an inability to distinguish or separate the sounds in spoken words. Some children have problems sounding out words, while others have trouble with rhyming games, such as rhyming "cat" with "bat." Yet, scientists have found these skills fundamental to learning to read. However, there is more to reading than recognizing words. If the brain is unable to form images or relate new ideas to those stored in memory, the reader cannot understand or remember the new concepts. Other types of reading disabilities can appear in the upper grades when the focus of reading shifts from word identification to comprehension. The problems displayed by individuals with dyslexia involve difficulties in acquiring and using written language. **It is a myth that dyslexic individuals "read backwards,"** although spelling can look quite jumbled at times because students have trouble remembering letter symbols for sounds and forming memories for words. Other problems experienced by dyslexics include the following:
 * __ Dyslexia __** :
 * Learning to speak
 * Learning letters and their sounds
 * Organizing written and spoken language
 * Memorizing number facts
 * Reading quickly enough to comprehend
 * Persisting with and comprehending longer reading assignments
 * Spelling
 * Correctly doing math operations

Writing involves several brain areas and functions. The brain networks for vocabulary, grammar, hand movement, and memory must all be in good working order. A developmental writing disorder may result from problems in any of these areas. For example, a child with a writing disability, particularly an expressive language disorder, might be unable to compose complete and grammatically correct sentences. Just having bad handwriting doesn't mean a person has dysgraphia. Since dysgraphia is a processing disorder, difficulties can change throughout a lifetime. However since writing is a developmental process -children learn the motor skills needed to write, while learning the thinking skills needed to communicate on paper - difficulties can also overlap. If a person has trouble in any of the areas below, additional help may be beneficial.
 * __ Dysgraphia __** :
 * Tight, awkward pencil grip and body position
 * Illegible handwriting
 * Avoiding writing or drawing tasks
 * Tiring quickly while writing
 * Saying words out loud while writing
 * Unfinished or omitted words in sentences
 * Difficulty organizing thoughts on paper
 * Difficulty with syntax structure and grammar
 * Large gap between written ideas and understanding demonstrated through speech.

Arithmetic involves recognizing numbers and symbols, memorizing facts, aligning numbers, and understanding abstract concepts like place value and fractions. Any of these may be difficult for children with developmental arithmetic disorders, also called dyscalculia. Problems with number or basic concepts are likely to show up early. Disabilities that appear in the later grades are more often tied to problems in reasoning. Since math disabilities are varied, the signs that a person may have a difficulty in this area can be just as varied. However, having difficulty learning math skills does not necessarily mean a person has a learning disability. All students learn at different paces, and particularly among young people, it takes time and practice for formal math procedures to make practical sense. If a person has trouble in any of the areas below, additional help may be beneficial.
 * __ Dyscalculia __** :
 * Good at speaking, reading, and writing, but slow to develop counting and math problem-solving skills
 * Good memory for printed words, but difficulty reading numbers, or recalling numbers in sequence
 * Good with general math concepts, but frustrated when specific computation and organization skills need to be used
 * Trouble with the concept of time-chronically late, difficulty remembering schedules, trouble with approximating how long something will take
 * Poor sense of direction, easily disoriented and easily confused by changes in routine
 * Poor long term memory of concepts-can do math functions one day, but is unable to repeat them the next day
 * Poor mental math ability-trouble estimating grocery costs or counting days until vacation
 * Difficulty playing strategy games like chess, bridge or role-playing video games
 * Difficulty keeping score when playing board and card games.

[|Misunderstood Minds] PBS production and website. TONS of information, video clips, simulations, and more. Wonderful resource.