All About Learning Disabilities

What is a learning disability?

According to the American Speech - Language and Hearing Association, Language Based Learning Disabilities are problems with age-appropriate reading, spelling and/or writing. This disorder is not about how smart a person is. Most people diagnosed with learning disabilities have an average to high intelligence.

How is it diagnosed?

A speech-language pathologist (SLP) is part of a team consisting of the parents/caregivers and educational professionals (i.e., teacher(s), special educators, psychologist). The SLP will evaluate spoken (speaking and listening) and written (reading and writing) language for children who have been identified by their teachers and parents as having difficulty

What are some signs of a language-based learning disability?

For Preschool students, the SLP may do any

Evaluate the child's ability to understand verbal and written directions and to pay attention to written information on the blackboard, daily plans, etc.
Look for awareness of print.
See if the child recognizes familiar signs and logos.
Watch to see if a child holds a book correctly and turns the pages.
Determine if the child recognizes and/or writes name.

For Older children, the SLP may also do any or all of the following:

Observe whether the child can read and understand information on handouts and in textbooks.
Assess the student's ability to hear and "play with" sounds in words (phonological awareness skills).
Have the child put together syllables and sounds to make to make a word.
See if the child can break up a word into its syllables and/or sounds (e.g., "cat" has one syllable but three sounds c-a-t).
Assess the older child's phonological memory by having him or her repeat strings of words, numbers, letter, and sounds of increasing length.

Progressive Pediatric Therapy of TX

All About Learning Disabilities

What is a learning disability?

How is it diagnosed?

What are some signs of a language-based learning disability?