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Unit 16 : Learning Disabilities: Definition, Type, Characterstics

Notes

What are the verbal perceptual problems?

16.5 Summary

• Learning disability refers to learning problems which manifest in an imperfect ability to listen,
think, speak, read, write or do mathematical calculations which are not primarily due to visual
impairment, hearing impairment, motor handicap, mental retardation environmental or
economic disadvantages, but due to a disorder in the psychological process involved in
understanding or in using language.
• There are following types of summary learning disabilities:
(i) Alexia: Children suffering from reading disability are unable to read. this disability is also
called “Alexia” reading disability.
(ii) Acalculia: The affected children having problem in arithmetical terms.
(iii) Expressive aphasia: The loss of ability to speak.
(iv) Sensory aphasia: The loss of power to understand spoken words, signs, gestures or print.
• There are a large number of children who have problems in learning specific subjects. Usually
learning problems may occur due to any one or a combination of the following factors:
(1) Low level of intelligence, (2) Mental retardation, (3) Visual impairment, (4) Motor handicaps,
(5) Economic difficulties, (6) Cultural disadvantage, (7) Poor instruction.
• general characteristics based on the assumption that LD is a neurological impairment:
1. Hyperactivity, 2. Emotional lability, 3. Disorders of attention, 4. Disorders in memory, and
thinking, 5. Equivocal neurological signs 6. General coordination deficits, 7. Impulsivity, and
8. Specific learning disability.
• Lerner (1985) demonstrated that LD children display problems in spatial relations, visual
discrimination, figure and ground discrimination, of similarities and differences, auditory
sequencing auditory blending and auditory memory.
• There are characteristics of mentally retarded children under following categories:
(i) Language and Speech Impairment: Poor receptive auditory ability (spoken symbol, requests
for repetition), receptive visual difficulty (subvocalise reading, read without understanding,
motor difficulties (spelling disorders drawing disorders)
(ii) Perceptual and Motor Ability of LD children: Unable to identify, discriminate and interpret
sensation poor visual decoding, poor auditory deciding, poor, kinesthetic and vestibular
perception (problems in coordination movement, space orientation etc.).
(iii) Social and emotional characteristics quiet and obedient daydream and cannot read, attentions
difficult to hold, cannot work with other children, emotionally liable and unstable. They are
impulsive in nature, they fail to think about consequences of their behaviour, display rage
reaction they lack social competence.
• Some LD children have reading problems and some others have writing problems.
• it is difficult to mention the characteristics which are noticed in all LD children.

16.6 Keywords

• Disability : A physical or mental condition that means you cannot use a part of your body
completely.
• Orientation : the type of aims
• Auditory : Connected with hearing.
• Careless : Not giving enough attention or not showing interest or offer.

LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY 117