Type of Learning Disabilities

Dyslexia
A language and reading disability

Signs and Symptoms
• Reads slowly and painfully
• Experiences decoding errors, especially with the order of letters
• Shows wide disparity between listening comprehension and reading comprehension of some text
• Has trouble with spelling
• May have difficulty with handwriting
• Exhibits difficulty recalling known words
• Has difficulty with written language
• May experience difficulty with math computations
• Decoding real words is better than nonsense words
• Substitutes one small sight word for another: a, I, he, the, there, was

Strategies
• Provide a quiet area for activities like reading, answering comprehension questions
• Use books on tape
• Use books with large print and big spaces between lines
• Provide a copy of lecture notes
• Don’t count spelling on history, science or other similar tests
• Allow alternative forms for book reports
• Allow the use of a laptop or other computer for in-class essays
• Use multi-sensory teaching methods
• Teach students to use logic rather than rote memory
• Present material in small units

Dyscalculia
Problems with arithmetic and math concepts

Signs and Symptoms

• Shows difficulty understanding concepts of place value, and quantity, number lines, positive and negative value, carrying and borrowing
• Has difficulty understanding and doing word problems
• Has difficulty sequencing information or events
• Exhibits difficulty using steps involved in math operations
• Shows difficulty understanding fractions
• Is challenged making change and handling money
• Displays difficulty recognizing patterns when adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing
• Has difficulty putting language to math processes
• Has difficulty understanding concepts related to time such as days, weeks, months, seasons, quarters, etc.
• Exhibits difficulty organizing problems on the page, keeping numbers lined up, following through on long division problems

Strategies
• Allow use of fingers and scratch paper
• Use diagrams and draw math concepts
• Provide peer assistance
• Suggest use of graph paper
• Suggest use of colored pencils to differentiate problems
• Work with manipulatives
• Draw pictures of word problems
• Use mneumonic devices to learn steps of a math concept
• Use rhythm and music to teach math facts and to set steps to a beat
• Schedule computer time for the student for drill and practice

Dysgraphia
A writing disorder resulting in illegibility

Dyspraxia (Sensory Integration Disorder)
Problems with motor coordination

Central Auditory Processing Disorder
Difficulty processing and remembering language-related tasks

Non-Verbal Learning Disorders
Trouble with nonverbal cues, e.g., body language; poor coordination, clumsy

Visual Perceptual/Visual Motor Deficit
Reverses letters; cannot copy accurately; eyes hurt and itch; loses place; struggles with cutting

Language Disorders (Aphasia/Dysphasia)
Trouble understanding spoken language; poor reading comprehension