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What is a Learning Disorder?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

A learning disorder, also known as a learning disability, is a disability that interferes with someone's ability to learn. These disabilities involve variations in cognitive function that cause people to have problems acquiring, storing, processing, and retrieving knowledge. The severity of a learning disorder can vary considerably and may be complicated by the presence of other disabilities like attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or autism.

People with learning disorders do not experience impairments in cognitive function that lead to decreased performance on intelligence tests. In fact, many notably intelligent people including individuals like Albert Einstein had learning disorders, illustrating that these disorders do not have an impact on intelligence. Instead, they complicate the way that people learn, whether in classroom environments or the outside world.

Physicist Albert Einstein wrestled with learning disorders while in school.
Physicist Albert Einstein wrestled with learning disorders while in school.

A person with an undiagnosed learning disorder might struggle to complete work, spend more time on tasks than other students, express frustration with schoolwork, or develop behavioral abnormalities in response to feeling frustrated in the school environment. Teachers and parents may note that someone seems to have trouble processing information that the rest of the class is understanding, or that a student appears inattentive and unfocused.

Tutors may help students who have a learning disorder.
Tutors may help students who have a learning disorder.

There are numerous conditions classified as learning disorders, including both verbal and nonverbal disorders. These include problems with auditory and visual processing, dyspraxia, dyslexia, and dyscalculia. Students can have trouble with everything from understanding spoken language to comprehending symbols like plus and minus signs in math. Trouble with processing can make it difficult for a person with a learning disorder to acquire and store information, and some students process information very effectively, but cannot retrieve it.

People with a learning disorder may become easily frustrated.
People with a learning disorder may become easily frustrated.

It is not possible to cure a learning disorder, but there are a number of approaches to treatment. These students have different learning styles and some can benefit from interventions like tutoring, small adjustments in the classroom environment to make teaching materials more accessible, or placement in specialized classes with other students who have similar disabilities. Medications to manage conditions like ADHD can be beneficial for some students with learning disorders and some students also find it helpful to work with a counselor or advisor.

Most students with untreated dyslexia are intelligent but have difficulty learning to read, write and spell.
Most students with untreated dyslexia are intelligent but have difficulty learning to read, write and spell.

Schools increasingly provide intervention programs for students with disabilities that are designed to identify and address disabilities early. These include free screening for students with suspected learning disorders, along with access to community programs that provide assistance to students and their parents. With support, students with learning disorders can be highly successful in school and some even become educators themselves.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGEEK researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGEEK researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

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    • Physicist Albert Einstein wrestled with learning disorders while in school.
      By: pds209
      Physicist Albert Einstein wrestled with learning disorders while in school.
    • Tutors may help students who have a learning disorder.
      By: Gennadiy Poznyakov
      Tutors may help students who have a learning disorder.
    • People with a learning disorder may become easily frustrated.
      By: gpointstudio
      People with a learning disorder may become easily frustrated.
    • Most students with untreated dyslexia are intelligent but have difficulty learning to read, write and spell.
      By: aceshot
      Most students with untreated dyslexia are intelligent but have difficulty learning to read, write and spell.
    • Fine and gross motor skill impairment makes writing difficult for children with nonverbal learning disorder.
      By: Leah-Anne Thompson
      Fine and gross motor skill impairment makes writing difficult for children with nonverbal learning disorder.