WHY DO SOME PEOPLE HAVE LEARNING DISABILITIES? WHAT ARE THE CAUSES?

Learning disabilities (LDs) are neurological or brain-based disabilities and their cause is still not fully understood. The disorder is complex and there are many different types of LDs which may have different causes. LDs can be genetically inherited and are more common in family members of people with an LD. Some may be caused during pregnancy or while a child's brain is still developing from birth-related problems; as a result of malnutrition, drug abuse or alcoholism; exposure to chemicals such as lead, or due to a severe illness. There are a wide variety of different kinds of learning disabilities and they show up in different ways in different people. While there are many types of LDs, some examples include dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, a slower rate of information processing, or a working memory deficit.

Since LD-related research began in the 1920’s, scientists have been seeking explanations as to the origins of this disability. In doing so, they are trying to understand cognitive processes involved in learning, critical thinking, and problem solving, and why and how they develop differently in different people. There are many theories about the concept of intelligence and about how to measure differences in information processing and learning. In recent decades, we are learning much more about how the brain works and we are beginning to get some clues about information processing differences. Yet, there is a still a lot that is unknown.

Man studying with hands on head frustrated

As yet, there is not a “cure” for a learning disability. It is legally treated as a permanent disability. And, while permanent, there are many different ways to compensate or accommodate for the challenges that come with LDs. Some people learn strategies that work well for them even if they are different from how most people study and learn. Many students with LDs can benefit from specific accommodations, services, and technology that can help them to access the information they are learning and to demonstrate what they know.

References:

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. What causes learning disabilities?

National Center for Learning Disabilities. (2017). Snapshot of learning and attention issues in the U.S. Retrieved August 7, 2018, from Reading Assessment Data Among Students with Specific Learning Disabilities: A snapshot of the 2022 national assessment of educational progress.

U.S. Department of Education. (2022). 2022 Reading Assessment. NAEP Report Card: Reading. National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP).