Learning Disabilities (LD) and Autism

According to the National Center for Learning Disabilities there are approximately 2.4 million students who suffer from a learning disability, which amounts to approximately 41% of the total student body population. The true number of LD individuals is hard to determine. Another site estimates that 1 in 5 children are LD, but in the UK the number is estimated that 20 in every 1000 have a learning disability. The disparity between these percentages tells me that more research is needed in this area. One thing that is certain is that our children with learning disabilities are behind. Near half of middle school students with learning disabilities are performing, at a minimum, of three grade levels behind their typical peers and only 67% of LD students graduate from high school with a regular diploma.  Learning disabilities are life long and cannot be cured, but their effects can be reduced with proper support.It is important to understand that a diagnosis of ADD/ADHD can contribute to learning disability, but ADD/ADHD are NOT learning disabilities.

What can you do? How can you help? What should you look for? All these questions will be answered in this blog.

Many people with learning disabilities (LD) also suffer with difficulties in executive functioning. Executive functioning is the ability to use what you have learned and apply it to what you are doing. Executive function is used to plan, organize, strategize, pay attention to and remember details, and manage time and space. Troubles with executive function typically become evident when a child is in elementary school and independent school work becomes a demand. There is no test or series of tests to determine struggles in executive functioning. This area of difficulty can only be determined through careful observation to determine where the weakness lies. Direct instruction, reassurance, and feedback are all important to help someone who is suffering with a disorder of executive functioning. To learn more about executive functioning, specific warning signs, and strategies to help cope with this disorder please see this link.

Executive Function: What is it and does your child have it?

Dyslexia: What is it? Dyslexia is a LD that causes difficulty with reading and writing. According to Yale University approximately 20% of the population is dyslexic. Research suggests that children with Autism are not at an increased risk of developing dyslexia, though dyslexia is believed to effect areas of the brain also linked to Autism. According to Autism Speaks children with Autism may teach themselves to read at an early age, a condition called hyperlexia. The problem comes in when they have learned to read words without comprehending the meaning of what they are reading.

Those suffering with dyslexia appear intelligent and articulate, but they are unable to read, write, or spell at an age appropriate level. Dyslexia is not limited to the typical reversing of letters or words, or writing backwards. Dyslexia can be treated with proper therapy, training, and equipment. The school can intervene and provide therapies to those suffering from dyslexia. There has been a development research into a special font type titled "Dyslexia Font". Its users claim they experience less mistakes when reading and writing with the font. The cause of dyslexia is believed to be genetic, but that has not been confirmed. To learn more about dyslexia, please read this article. An interesting fact, Keira Knightley has dyslexia. 

Link to Open Dyslexia Website

Dyscalculia: What is it? Dyscalculia is a LD that effects arithmetic abilities. According to About Dyscalculia approximately 6% of the total population suffers from dyscalculia. Less is known about dyscalculia and its possible relationship with dyslexia and dyspraxia. Dyscalculia occurs across IQ ranges. Those suffering from dyscalculia show many signs, among them could be difficulties with time, measurement, comprehension of financial planning or budgeting, and problems differentiating between left and right, among many others. Testing can be done to diagnose dyscalculia. Research shows promising results through training programs. Additional tutoring, graph paper for writing and explanations can also be helpful. Scientists used to think that dyscalculia was due to some form of brain damage, but now they are learning it can also be genetically linked. To learn more about dyscalculia please read this article or this blog from Scientific Learning. 

Dysgraphia: What is it? Dysgraphia is a LD that causes difficulty writing coherently, if the individual can write at all, regardless of the individuals ability to read. According to Scholastic approximately 5-17% of the population has dysgraphia. Those who have dysgraphia also are likely to have dyslexia and cases of dysgraphia in adults usually found with neurological trauma or in conjunction with Autism, Tourette Syndrome, or ADHD. Individuals with dysgraphia may have a higher than average IQ and may write, but they demonstrate a lack of coordination and find other activities involving their hands difficult, such as tying shoes. This maybe due to the possibility of pain felt by the individual suffering from dysgraphia. In children this is first observed when they begin to write. 

There are three different types of dysgraphia. Dyslexic, motor, or spatial. Those suffering from dysgraphia show symptoms of mixing upper and lower case letters, irregular size of letters or shapes, unfinished letters, odd writing grip, and spelling mistakes among others. Treatment for this LD varies but includes motor skill assistance. Occupational therapy can help to correct pencil grip, muscle tone, and hand eye coordination required for fine motor skills involved in writing. Vision therapy is also another form of treatment used in dysgraphia. The causes of dysgraphia vary from brain damage or physical deformity to genetic links. To learn more about dysgraphia please read this article or this blog from dysTalk. 

Educational Reference

Dyspraxia: What is it? Simply defined, dyspraxia is difficulty with movement. This disorder ranges from initiation of an action to physical performance of an action.This difficulty is possibly due to an immaturity of the way the brain processes information and that translates to the body receiving improper signals. Dyspraxia is often found in individuals who suffer from other developmental disorders like Autism, dyslexia, and others. Dyspraxics have similar behaviors as those on the Autism Spectrum. Dyspraxia is often misdiagnosed as ADHD and dyspraxics may have Sensory Processing Disorder. There are six main areas of difficulty in dyspraxia, four are more common than any others, these include: -speech and language, -fine motor control, -whole body movement, and -physical play. Symptoms of dyspraxia include difficulty picking things up, ambidexterity, poor spatial awareness, an aversion to loud environments, and difficulty sleeping, as well as a great deal of others. Treatment of dyspraxia includes support from an Occupational Therapist and possibly a Speech-Language Pathologist. To learn more about dyspraxia please read this article or my blog, Autism and Motor Skills. An interesting fact, Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter star) has dyspraxia. 

Here is a list of beautiful, current Hollywood minds with learning disabilities, very interesting and inspiring for struggling young people. For more information on learning disabilities please read this article. 

As always we wish you the best of luck on your Autism journey. We are always here for you at Aiden's Heroes.