Testing for Psychological, Neuropsychological and Learning Problems

Testing for Learning Disabilities

By: Michael G. Conner, Psy.D

Revised: May 21, 2014

Learning Disabilities

A learning disability is a neurological problem that affects the brain's ability to receive process, store or respond to information. The term �learning disability� is used to describe the seemingly inexplicable difficulties people of at least average intelligence have in acquiring basic academic skills. These skills are essential for success at school and work and for coping with life in general.

Learning disability is a general term for specific kinds of learning problems. The skills most often affected are reading, writing, listening, speaking, reasoning and doing math. Learning disabilities vary from person to person. One person with a learning disability may not have the same kind of learning problems as another person. One child may have problems with understanding math, another with reading. Still another person may have trouble in each of these areas, as well as with understanding what people are saying.

The definition of learning disability just below comes from the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). IDEA is the federal law that guides how schools provide special education and related services to children with disabilities.

IDEA Definition of "Learning Disability"

Our nation's special education law, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, defines a specific learning disability as

". . . a disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using language, spoken or written, that may manifest itself in an imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell, or do mathematical calculations, including conditions such as perceptual disabilities, brain injury, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia, and developmental aphasia."

However, learning disabilities do not include "�learning problems that are primarily the result of visual, hearing, or motor disabilities, of mental retardation, of emotional disturbance, or of environmental, cultural, or economic disadvantage." 34 Code of Federal Regulations �300.7(c)(10)

Researchers think that learning disabilities are caused by differences in how people�s brains work and how they process information. Children with learning disabilities are not "dumb" or "lazy." In fact, they usually have average or above-average intelligence. Their brains just process information differently.

There is no "cure" for learning disabilities. They are life-long. However, children with learning disabilities can be high achievers and can be taught ways to get around their problems.

How Common are Learning Disabilities

Learning disabilities are very common. As many as one out of every five people in the United States has a learning disability. Almost three million children (ages 6 through 21) have some form of learning disability and would qualify for special education in school. According to the U.S. Department of Education, over half of all children who receive special education have a learning disability.

What are the Signs of a Learning Disability

There is no one sign that shows a person has a learning disability. Experts look for a noticeable difference between how well a child does in school and how well he or she could do, given his or her intelligence or ability. Certain clues may indicate a child has a learning disability. I�ve listed a few below. Most relate to elementary school tasks because learning disabilities tend to be identified in elementary school. A child probably won't show all of these signs or even most of them. However, if a child has a number of these problems, then parents and the teacher should consider the possibility that the child has a learning disability.

Signs of a Learning Disability Include�

trouble learning the alphabet, rhyming words or connecting letters to their sounds;,
making mistakes when reading aloud, with frequent repeats and pauses;
difficulty understanding what he or she reads;
trouble with spelling;
messy handwriting or holding a pencil awkwardly;
difficulty expressing ideas in writing;
limited vocabulary;
trouble remembering the sounds that letters make or hearing slight differences between words;
trouble understanding jokes, comic strips and sarcasm;,
trouble following directions;
mispronouncing words or using a wrong word that sounds similar;
trouble organizing what he or she wants to say or inability to think of the word he or she needs for writing or conversation;
difficulty following the social rules of conversation, such as taking turns, and standing too close to the listener;
confusing math symbols and misreading numbers;
difficulty with retelling a story in order (what happened first, second, third);
difficulty with knowing where to begin a task or how to go on from there.

If a child has unexpected problems learning to read, write, listen, speak or do math, then teachers and parents may want to investigate more. The same is true if the child is struggling with any one of these skills. The child may need to be evaluated to see if he or she has a learning disability.