List of Learning Disorders
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A learning disorder is a condition that impacts a person’s ability to learn a specific subject or process specific types of information. For instance, a person may face difficulty when learning language or numerical concepts.
Intellectual Disability vs. Learning Disorder
Some may use the terms “intellectual disability” and “learning disability” interchangeably. However, these terms have different meanings.
An intellectual disability is a condition that impacts a person’s overall cognitive functioning, as well as their ability to carry out daily activities without assistance and accommodation.
While a learning disorder can impact a person’s daily life and create a need for accommodation, it impacts more specific types of cognition. People with learning disabilities generally have average to above average intelligence.
List of Common Learning Disorders
Below is a list of some of the most common types of learning disorders. These disorders are often discovered during childhood, but they may also be diagnosed in adulthood.
Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a language disorder that is best known for its impact on reading ability. However, people with dyslexia also often experience difficulties with spelling, writing, and other language-based activities. Dyslexia impacts a person’s ability to connect speech sounds with their corresponding letters.
Dysgraphia
Dysgraphia is a type of learning disorder that affects one’s ability to write, causing difficulties with handwriting and written coherence.
Though dysgraphia may be caused by or exist alongside dyslexia, this condition may also occur in people who do not struggle with other language-based tasks. In these cases, dysgraphia has other causes, such as fine motor impairments or impaired spatial awareness.
Dyscalculia
Dyscalculia affects one’s ability to understand numbers and solve mathematical equations. People with dyscalculia often experience difficulties with day-to-day numerical tasks, including those that involve sequences, such as remembering turn-by-turn driving directions.
Processing Disorders
Processing disorders are conditions that concern the information that a person receives. When people receive information from their surroundings, those with processing disorders may struggle to understand and use that information.
Some processing disorders, such as sensory processing disorder (SPD), are not types of learning disorders. However, other processing disorders, including auditory processing disorder (APD) and language processing disorder (LPD) are classified as learning disorders by several sources.
Auditory Processing Disorder
Some sources call APD a type of hearing loss. However, APD is more accurately described as a disorder that impacts how the brain processes and understands auditory information, such as verbal instructions. Many people with APD do not have any physical hearing loss.
Language Processing Disorder
LPD affects how people process language, including auditory and written language. A person with LPD may struggle to receive language-based information, express themselves linguistically, or both.
LPD has some overlap with APD. For example, people with both conditions may struggle to understand sentences that are spoken out loud. However, APD does not cause difficulty with written language, and LPD does not cause difficulty with non-verbal auditory stimuli.
Conditions that Overlap with Learning Disorders
Learning disorders often occur alongside other conditions. For instance, more than 60% of children with dyslexia meet the diagnostic criteria for one or more other conditions.
Common comorbid conditions include neurodevelopmental disorders, anxiety, and additional learning disorders.
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that impacts motivation, focus, impulse inhibition, and other executive function skills.
ADHD is sometimes incorrectly called a learning disability, perhaps because ADHD commonly overlaps with specific learning disorders. ADHD may also be mistaken for a learning disorder due to its impact on focus and task initiation, both of which are crucial when completing academic tasks.
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that impacts social communication, sensory integration, thought patterns, and several other aspects of day-to-day life.
Much like ADHD, ASD is often mistakenly called a learning disorder. While autism itself is not a learning disorder, it does commonly overlap with conditions such as dyslexia or dyscalculia.
Some autistic individuals also demonstrate learning superabilities such as hyperlexia, and it is not uncommon for people with ASD to possess both superabilities and learning disorders.
Learning Anxiety
Children who struggle with particular subjects in school may develop anxiety about learning, especially if they are reprimanded or ridiculed for their struggles rather than accommodated.
For instance, children with dyscalculia may develop math anxiety. as they learn to associate math with confusion and difficulty. This anxiety may persist well into adulthood.
Overlapping Learning Disorders
It is also common for learning disorders to overlap with one another. One example comes from dyscalculia, which commonly co-occurs with dyslexia. Likewise, dyspraxia often occurs alongside dysgraphia, as both conditions impair fine motor skills.
Frequently Asked Questions
It’s normal to have questions about learning disabilities and disorders, especially if you suspect that you have one, or if you think that your child might have one. Here are some common questions about learning difficulties.
What are the Differences between Learning Disorders and Learning Disabilities?
In the United States, “learning disorders” and “learning disabilities” usually refer to the same thing: difficulty learning a specific subject. You’ll often hear these terms used interchangeably. According the the Boston Children’s Hospital, the medical community uses the term “learning disorder,” while the educational community uses the term “learning disability.” However, you can use either term when seeking a diagnosis for yourself or your child.
Can Adults Have Learning Disabilities?
Yes, adults can have learning disorders. Most people associate learning disorders with children, but people do not outgrow learning disabilities. This does not mean, however, that they cannot find effective learning strategies and accommodations.
I’m an Adult with a Possible Learning Disorder. Is a Diagnosis Worth It?
It can be tough to find learning disorder testing for adults, and these tests are often expensive. Many adults wonder if a diagnosis is worth the time and effort. Only you can decide what the right choice is for yourself. Pursuing a diagnosis may benefit you if:
your learning difficulties are causing struggles in your day-to-day life
an official diagnosis could help you get accommodations at work or school
you want an official explanation for your past struggles
a diagnosis would help you access learning resources
you want to rule out other possible explanations for your difficulties
you would feel more satisfied if you had a confirmation
What is the Treatment for Learning Disorders?
Learning disorders are not “treated” in the same way that an illness is treated. However, parents, teachers, and therapists can work together to help children succeed. Treatment for learning disorders can include academic accommodations, therapy, tutoring, special education classes, and alternative learning strategies.
Is Autism a Learning Disability? Is ADHD a Learning Disability?
No, autism and ADHD are not learning disorders. They are neurodevelopmental conditions. However, it is very common for autistic people and people with ADHD to experience a co-occurring learning disability.
Sources:
Advances in Neurodevelopmental Disorders — Specific Learning Disorder in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — Facts about Intellectual Disability
Deutsches Arzteblatt International — The Diagnosis and Management of Dyscalculia
International Dyslexia Association — Dyslexia Basics
International Dyslexia Association — Understanding Dysgraphia
Mayo Clinic — Auditory Processing Disorder: Symptoms and Causes
Mayo Clinic — Dyslexia: Symptoms and Causes
National Association on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders — Developmental Language Disorder
University of Washington — Learning Disabilities
World Journal of Clinical Cases — Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Comorbidity: A Review of Literature