TYPES OF LEARNING DISABILITIES
The major types of learning disabilities found among
school-aged children are: (1) Dyslexia, (2) Dysgraphia, and (3) Dyscalculla. A
Brief description of each of these types of learning disability is given below:
1. Dyslexia
Dyslexia
is a language-based learning disability characterized by a severe impairment in
the ability to read and spell. The term dyslexia was coined in 1887 by Rudolf
Berlin. People with dyslexia experience difficulties with accurate and fluent
word recognition and has poor spelling and decoding abilities. These
difficulties typically result from a deficit in the phonological component of
language, and not from deficit of cognitive abilities and ineffective classroom
teaching. Secondary consequences may include problems in reading comprehension and
reduced reading experience that can impede the growth of vocabulary and
background knowledge. Dyslexic children have difficulties with specific
language skills, particularly reading. Children with dyslexia usually
experience difficulties with other language skills such as spelling, writing, and
pronouncing words.
2. Dysgraphia
Dysgraphia
is a specific learning disability that affects writing abilities. It cab
manifest itself as difficulties with spelling, handwriting and expressing
thoughts on paper. The term dysgraphia has its origin from the words ‘dys’
meaning ‘difficulties’ and ‘graphia’ meaning ‘writing ‘. Dysgraphia is a
deficiency in the ability to write, regardless of the ability to read, not due
to intellectual impairment.
3. Dyscalculia
The
term ‘dyscalculia’ originated from the German word ‘dys’ which means ‘difficulty’
and the Latin ‘calculare’ which means ‘to count. Put together, the word
dyscalculia means ‘difficulty with calculations’. Thus, dyscalculia is a
learning involving mathematics. It is a special learning disability involving
innate difficulty in learning arithmetic. By definition, dyscalculia is a
mathematical learning disorder where the mathematical ability is far below expected
for a person’s age, intelligence and education. It can manifest itself as a
person’s inability to understand basic number concepts and number
relationships, recognize symbols, and comprehend quantitative and spatial information.
It is estimated that between 4% and 6% of the population suffer with
dyscalculia.
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