Learning Disabilities

A Learning Disability is a neurodevelopmental disorder in a key area of learning, such as reading, math, or written expression, that shows signs in early childhood (although it may not be completely evident or diagnosed until adulthood) and persists over time. The disorder causes significant impairment in learning in one or more areas.

Terminology

You may hear different names including, "Learning Disabilities," "Learning Differences," or "Learning Disorders." These all refer to the same basic set of symptoms and issues and are generally used interchangeably. Yet, there there are some important differences.

The California Community Colleges use the term "Learning Disabilities" because that is the language used in California's Title 5. 56036. Learning Disability. The term is also used in colleges and courts when talking about legal access to accommodations and services.

Another commonly used term is "Specific Learning Disorder," the term most commonly used in the U.S. based upon the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR). These all describe the same thing

Different Types of LD

Learning disabilities generally fall into one or more of three categories:

Specific Learning Disorder, with impairment in reading
Specific Learning Disorder, with impairment in mathematics
Specific Learning Disorder, with impairment in written expression

People can have a learning disability in one or more of these areas. These disorders indicate that a student experiences significant difficulty learning in the specific academic area (e.g., reading) compared to other people their age and/or compared to their cognitive ability to learn in other academic areas (e.g., math).

Information Processing Impairments: While the above types of learning disabilities identify learning challenges with specific academic subjects, other learning challenges may occur that affect information processing and can affect learning for many subjects. Students with learning disabilities often experience information processing deficits in either:

Processing Speed
Working Memory

Strengths and Weakness

All people have a unique pattern of individual strengths and weaknesses. The is normal and to be expected. It also creates the wonderful variety of people in our world who have their own unique set of skills and abilities to offer. If someone is diagnosed with an LD, this means that their differences, in one or more areas, are not just within the typical variation of strengths and weaknesses. The differences in their information processing, or in their academic achievement compared to their cognitive ability, are considered significant enough to cause a "functional impairment," meaning it interferes significantly in their ability to some an important task in their daily living. Because their Learning Disability causes significant challenges to learning in college, they are eligible for accommodations and services to address the barriers to accessing their college education.

Evaluations of learning disabilities include a comparison of a student's strengths and weaknesses. Everyone has both. Students with learning disabilities can experience extreme differences between their strengths and weaknesses or they may experience specific challenges that are more extreme than most people. These can include:

A significant difference between cognitive ability and academic achievement in one or more areas
A significant difference between different cognitive abilities
A significant difference between cognitive ability and information processing

The different types of learning disabilities mentioned above are described in more detail on the following pages.

References:

https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/specific-learning-disorder/what-is-specific-learning-disorder

Resources:

American Psychiatric Association. (2022). The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR).

American Psychiatric Association. https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/specific-learning-disorder/what-is-specific-learning-disorder

Boat TF, Wu JT, editors (2015 Oct 28). Clinical Characteristics of Learning Disabilities. Committee to Evaluate the Supplemental Security Income Disability Program for Children with Mental Disorders; Board on the Health of Select Populations; Board on Children, Youth, and Families; Institute of Medicine; Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education; The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine;
Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US).

International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Revision (ICD-10)

Resources:

Understood: For Learning and Attention Issues
- Parent resources
- Online simulations of learning difficulties
Learning Disabilities Association of America: Parent Resources
Center for Parent Information and Resources
International Dyslexia Association