Different Types of Learning Disabilities

A learning disability is a problem that the brain has in processing certain kinds of information. This information may take the form of verbal, written, or numerical cues. While these problems can't be cured, they can be effectively dealt with through various strategies. People with learning problems often go on to live highly successful lives, but first they must identify what type of disability they have and how to work with it. The following is a listing of the most common learning disabilities and their symptoms.

Dyslexia: This is the most common and well-known learning disability in the United States. People with dyslexia have problems reading and/or understanding written language due to directional or sequencing problems. Symptoms of dyslexia may include: late talking, trouble learning the alphabet, poor spelling, and overreliance on memorization.

Dyscalculia: Those with dyscalculia find it hard to understand the basic principles and practices of mathematics. Some indicators of dyscalculia include: difficulty learning numbers, mixing up mathematical symbols, and having trouble with numerical order.

Dysgraphia: This learning disability is characterized by the inability to write within a set space, such as a lined piece of paper. The Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA) categorizes this disorder as an output problem, caused by lack of control of the small muscles that dictate fine motor skills. Possible symptoms of dysgraphia include: late development of fine motor skills, poor handling of writing tools, and illegible handwriting.

Auditory and Visual Perception Disabilities: People with these kinds of learning problems are able to see and hear without difficulty, but still find it trying to understand language. Thus, this is a problem with how the brain interprets language cues. Those with auditory perception disabilities have a hard time telling the difference between various sounds (or phonemes), especially when more than one sound occurs at a time. Those with visual processing problems may encounter one or more of the following obstacles: transposing letters, not knowing which letter or symbol to focus on first, skipping letters, sentences, or even paragraphs, rereading the same passage over and over again, and poor depth perception.

Memory Disabilities: People with memory problems have a hard time retaining or retrieving audio or visual information. They may be unable to recall a statement that someone has recently made to them or a passage that they have just finished reading. This inability to access one's short-term memory makes it difficult to input information into one's long-term memory. A person who has issues with integrating information may understand individual facts perfectly but has trouble incorporating them into larger systems of logic. These individuals might be criticized for being unable to "see the big picture."