What Are Learning Disabilities?
According to the Learning Disability Association of America, “Learning disabilities may be defined in practical, medical and legal terms. The common theme in all three definitions is that a learning disability is a disorder in one or more basic psychological processes that may manifest itself as an imperfect ability in certain areas of learning, such as reading, written expression, or mathematics.
Practical Definition
The term “learning disabilities”, sometimes referred to as specific learning disabilities, is an umbrella term that covers a range of neurologically-based disorders in learning and various degrees of severity of such disorders. Predecessor terms include minimal brain damage and minimal brain dysfunction. Broadly speaking, these disorders involve difficulty in one or more, but not uniformly in all, basic psychological processes: (1) input (auditory and visual perception), (2) integration (sequencing, abstraction, and organization), (3) memory (working, short term, and long term memory), (4) output (expressive language), and (5) motor (fine and gross motor). Learning disabilities vary from individual to individual and may present in a variety of ways. Learning disabilities may manifest as difficulty: (1) processing information by visual and auditory, means, which may impact upon reading, spelling, writing, and understanding or using language, (2) prioritizing, organizing, doing mathematics, and following instructions, (3) storing or retrieving information from short or long term memory, (4) using spoken language, and (5) clumsiness or difficulty with handwriting.
Learning disabilities are not emotional disturbances, intellectual disabilities, or sensory impairments. They are not caused by inadequate parenting or lack of educational opportunity.
Cognitive assessment, including psychoeducational or neuropsychological evaluation, is of critical importance in diagnosing a learning disability. Learning disabilities may be diagnosed by qualified school or educational psychologists, by clinical psychologists, and by clinical neuropsychologists who are trained and experienced in the assessment of learning disabilities.
Medical Definition
The Fifth Edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) contains a section for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, and, within that section, a category for Specific Learning Disorder. The Neurodevelopmental Disorders Section also contains categories for Communications Disorders and Motor Disorders. Specific Learning Disorder in draft DSM-V includes difficulties in reading, written expression, and mathematics.
Legal Definition
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) provides that “specific learning disability” means “a disorder in 1 or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using language, spoken or written, which disorder may manifest itself in the imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell, or do mathematical calculations.” Such term “includes such conditions as perceptual disabilities, brain injury, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia, and developmental aphasia.” Such term does not include “a learning problem that is primarily the result of visual, hearing, or motor disabilities, of intellectual disabilities, of emotional disturbance, or of environmental, cultural, or economic disadvantage.” 20 U.S.C Section 1401 (30).
What are some examples of Learning Disabilities?
- Dyscalculia – A specific learning disability that affects a person’s ability to understand numbers and learn math facts.
- Dysgraphia – A specific learning disability that affects a person’s handwriting ability and fine motor skills.
- Dyslexia – A specific learning disability that affects reading and related language-based processing skills.
- ADHD – A disorder that includes difficulty staying focused and paying attention, controlling behavior, and hyperactivity.
- Executive Functioning – Affects, planning, organization, strategizing, attention to details, and managing time and space.
What are signs of a learning disability?
- Problems with being able to remember things
- Difficulty with maintaining attention
- Has problems following directions
- Struggles discriminate between/among letters, numerals, or sounds
- Reading and/or Writing ability is very poor
- Clumsy, uncoordinated, eye-hand coordination problems
- Difficulty with sequencing
- Sloppy, messy, disorganized
- Performs differently from day to day
- Responds inappropriately in many instances
- Distractible, restless, impulsive
- Says one thing, means another
- Struggles when there is a change in routine
- Difficulty listening and remembering
- Struggles with sounding out words
- Reverses letters, letters are placed in the wrong position
- Struggles with comprehending words or ideas
- Delayed speaking ability; immature speech
What is Counseling?
Counseling is a collaborative effort between the counselor and the client. Professional counselors help clients identify goals and potential solutions to problems that cause emotional turmoil; seek to improve communication and coping skills; strengthen self-esteem; and promote behavior change and optimal mental health.
What is Counseling Like?
Each session is, essentially, a problem-solving session. You describe your current situation, and your feelings about it, and then the therapist uses their expertise to assist you in trying to resolve that problem so you can move closer to having the life you wish to have.
Is what I say in counseling kept confidential?
In almost every instance, therapy is absolutely confidential. Your therapist is required to maintain confidentiality about everything said in sessions between the two of you, just like a doctor is required to keep your records private. While there are laws and regulations in place to protect your privacy, confidentiality is also a key part of psychology’s code of ethics. This means your therapist understands from the very beginning that in order for you to feel comfortable sharing openly with them, you need to know your information is safe.
Remember, you can always talk with your therapist if you have questions about the confidentiality agreement between the two of you during your sessions.
What are some common myths about counseling?
- Asking for help is a sign of weakness.
Contrary to this belief, it takes a great deal of emotional strength to seek help for problems that may be too overwhelming to manage alone. - A therapist will fix my problems right away.
The goal of counseling is not for someone else to “fix” your problems. We are here to help you to identify those concerns and to set goals for yourself. Solving those problems may involve working with your therapist to explore your feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. In doing so, you can explore your options and make a decision on how to best achieve your goals. YOU are the best one to fix your problems! - A therapist can’t understand what I am going through, because they’re not going through it themselves.
We agree that each individual is unique, and to achieve a complete understanding of one’s situation is very difficult. However, our staff members have been trained to learn about, be sensitive to, and respectful of the unique experiences of each client. Those experiences may include concerns related to gender, age, cultural background, racial/ethnic differences, sexual orientation, gender identity, family-of-origin, or socioeconomic issues.