The document provides an overview of learning disabilities including: - A learning disability results from differences in brain wiring that affect how information is processed. - Types of learning disabilities include dyslexia, dyscalculia, auditory processing disorder, nonverbal learning disabilities, and visual perceptual deficits. - Causes may include genetics, brain injury, problems during pregnancy/birth. - Diagnosis involves assessments by professionals to identify processing weaknesses. - Treatments depend on the type of learning disability but aim to make information more accessible. - Early diagnosis is important to help children succeed in school and life.

1. Learning
Disabilities

2. Introduction
A learning disability is a neurological disorder. In simple terms, a learning disability
results from a difference in the way a person's brain is "wired." Children with
learning disabilities are as smart or smarter than their peers. But they may have
difficulty reading, writing, spelling, reasoning, recalling and/or organizing
information if left to figure things out by themselves or if taught in conventional
ways.

3. Historical background :
1887 – German physician Rudolf Berlin refines our definition of reading problems, using the term "dyslexia"; to describe a "very great
difficulty in interpreting written or printed symbols.";
1895 – Ophthalmologist James Hinshelwood describes in medical journal, The Lancet, the case of acquired word blindness, where a
58 year old man awoke one morning to discover that he could no longer read. Hinshelwood continued to study word blindness in
children, and recognized the need for early identification of these children by teachers.
1905 – The first U.S. report of childhood reading difficulties is published by Cleveland ophthalmologist Dr. W.E. Bruner.
1969 – Congress passes the Children with Specific Learning Disabilities Act, which is included in the Education of the Handicapped
Act of 1970. This is the first time federal law mandates support services for students with learning disabilities.
1987 – A report released by the Interagency Committee on Learning Disabilities calls for the establishment of Centers for the Study of
Learning and Attention, whose sole purpose is to expand research and understanding of this issue.
1990 – The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) The term 'disability' replaces 'handicap,' and the new law requires
transition services for students. Autism and traumatic brain injury are added to the eligibility list.
2005 – Dr. Jeffrey Gruen and his research team at Yale University identified a gene that had patterns and variations that were strongly
associated with dyslexia.

4. Types of Learning Disabilities
1. Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)
2. Dyscalculia
3. Dyslexia
4. Nonverbal Learning Disabilities
5. Visual Perceptual/Visual Motor Deficit

5. Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)
1. Also known as Central Auditory Processing Disorder.
2. This is a condition that adversely affects how sound that travels unimpeded through the ear is
processed or interpreted by the brain.
3. Individuals with APD do not recognize subtle differences between sounds in words, even when
the sounds are loud and clear enough to be heard.
4. They can also find it difficult to tell where sounds are coming from, to make sense of the order
of sounds, or to block out competing background noises.
Symptoms:
● Doesn’t like being read to.
● Seems to hear, but not listen.
● Get tripped up by words (e.g:
mispronouncing words, confuses
similar-sounding words or speech
delay).
● Has poor conversation skills.
● Hates loud Noises.
● Keep forgetting things due to
the fact that they find it
difficult to recall information
they’ve heard.

6. Dyscalculia
1. A specific learning disability that affects a person's ability to understand numbers and learn math facts.
2. Individuals with this type of LD may also have poor comprehension of math symbols.
3. They may struggle with memorizing and organizing numbers, have difficulty telling time, or have trouble with counting.
Symptoms:
Established by research:
1. Delay in counting.
2. Delay in using counting strategies for addition, they tend to use inefficient techniques and strategies for
calculating addition facts.
3. Difficulties in memorizing arithmetic facts.
Some other symptoms that are likely to be:
1. Difficulty imagining a mental number line.
2. Difficulty using finger counting .
3. Difficulty understanding place value.

7. 1. A specific learning disability that affects reading and related language -based processing skills.
2. The severity can differ in each individual but can affect:
a. reading fluency
b. Decoding
c. reading comprehension
d. Recall
e. Writing
f. Spelling
g. speech
3. It can exist along with other related disorders.
4. Dyslexia is sometimes referred to as a Language -Based Learning Disability.
Dyslexia
Symptoms:
1. Speech problems (such as not being able to pronounce long words properly).
2. Struggling to learn sequences (such as the days of the week).
3. Little understanding or appreciation of rhyming words.
4. Spelling that is unpredictable and inconsistent.
5. Confusing the order of letters in words.
6. Answering questions well orally but having difficulties writing the answers down.
7. Problems learning the names and sounds of letters.

8. Nonverbal Learning Disabilities
1. A disorder which is usually characterized by a significant discrepancy between higher
verbal skills and weaker motor, visual- spatial and social skills.
2. Typically, an individual with NLD (or NVLD) has trouble interpreting nonverbal cues like
facial expressions or body language, and may have poor coordination.
Symptoms:
1. Asks a lot of questions.
2. Talks like a “mini-grownup”.
3. Does not like to explore.
4. Seems clumsy.
5. Misses the point.
6. Shares endless information.
7. Does not get humor or sarcasm.
8. Hates change.

9. Visual Perceptual/Visual Motor Deficit
1. A disorder that affects the understanding of information that a person sees, or the ability to draw or copy.
2. A characteristic seen in people with learning disabilities such as Dysgraphia or Nonverbal LD, it can result in:
a. Missing subtle differences in shapes or printed letters
b. Losing place frequently
c. Struggles with cutting
d. Holding pencil too tightly
e. Poor eye/hand coordination.
Symptoms
1. Seems clumsy due to the fact that they have trouble figuring out how
close/far they are from objects and people .
2. Seems to be “All Thumbs” (struggling with activities that use fine motor
skills).
3. Confuses similarly shaped letters and numbers.
4. Has lots of difficulty writing.
5. Cannot focus.
6. Has trouble reading.

10. Causes
Genes and Heredity
learning disabilities often run in the
family. Children with learning disabilities
are likely to have parents or other
relatives with difficulties.
Studies found a child with dyscalculia
often has a parent or sibling with
similar math issues.
There may also be a genetic link with
dysgraphia running in families.
Brain Injury
Studies show that injury to certain parts
of the brain can result in what
researchers call ''acquired
dyscalculia.''
Acquired dyslexia or alexia maybe
caused by brain damage due to
stroke.
Dysgraphia can result from brain
damage, either from an accident, a
severe stroke, or the existence of
Alzheimer's disease.
● Illness or injury during
or before birth.
● Low birth weight, lack
of oxygen.
● Drug and alcohol use
during pregnancy.
Problems during pregnancy
and birth

11. Diagnosis of learning disabilities
Well Trained personnel can diagnose it such as:
Clinical psychologist
School psychologist
Educational psychologist
Developmental psychologist
Neuropsychologist
Psychometrics
Occupational Therapist
The LDDI inventory helps
professionals identify learning
disabilities in children ages 8 to 17,
and reveals the extent to which skill
patterns in a particular area (e.g.,
reading or writing) are consistent
with those of individuals known to
have a learning disability in that
area (e.g., dyslexia or dysgraphia).
The items represent specific observable
behaviors associated with LD in
Listening
Speaking
Reading
Writing
Mathematics
Reasoning
Age Range:Identify learning disabilities
in children age 8 to 17.
Time Period:The LDDI can be
completed in 10 minutes by a teacher or
speech-language pathologist who is
familiar with the student's skills.

12. LDDI Scoring
Raw Scores
Total number of points rated for each
scale; which helps in finding out
stanines.
Stanines
Stanines are converted from raw scores using
the tables in an appendix.
Identify the likelihood of intrinsic processing
disorders in the six areas assessed by the
LDDI
Percentiles
percentile ranks represents values that indicate
the percentage of the distribution of a
representative sample of individuals of the same
age group
LDDI Limitations
1. The LDDI is limited to a single
language which is English, this limits
non english speaking children to be
able to take the test
2. The test is rated by the examiners so
there is no measurable score that can
be compared against other children's
scores; It is opinion based and varies
between each examiner.
LDDI Precaution
The examiner should focus on the child
during the assessment to ensure a
proper rating.
The area should be well lit and the seating
comfortable for the child.
The room should be quiet to avoid all
potential distractions and interruptions
as the LDDI has a listening section.
The scale should not be used as basis for
planning individual instructional
program.

13. Treatments
1.Auditory Processing Disorder
(APD)
■ Explain by pictures rather
than words.
■ Use different pitch and tone
of voice.
■ Ask them if they understand.
■ Give them time to think and
respond.
2.Dyscalculia ■ Allow use of fingers.
■ Explain math concepts using
diagrams.
■ Use colored pencils to
differentiate problems
■ Teach math facts By using
rhythm and music( memory
aids).
3.Dyslexia ■ Provide quiet area for reading
activities.
■ Use big spaces between
lines.
■ Use multi-sensory teaching
methods.

14. Treatments
4.Nonverbal Learning Disabilities ■ Verbally point out similarities,
differences and connections.
■ Don’t assume child
understands something by
“parroting back” what you’ve
said.
■ Offer additional verbal
explanations when the child
seems lost or confused.
5.Visual Perceptual/Visual Motor
Deficit
■ Provide tracking tools: ruler,
text windows
■ Use large print books.

15. Learning disability VS. Learning difficulty
Difficulty = obstacle
Disability = something that incapacitates
Learning disability and Learning difficulty both refer to weaknesses in learning skills. Learning disability is
significant, lifelong condition, where learning difficulty is just a problem that affects, or substantially affects, a
person’s ability to learn. Such as emotional or environmental causes. Learning disability has nothing to do with a
student’s intelligence.

16. Learning disability VS. Learning difficulty
Learning disability:
Its a categorical definition based on diagnosis.
Lifelong and pervasive
Do not respond readily to intensive
education intervention.
Skills do not improve quickly or significantly
Learning difficulty:
It can be caused by physical, emotional or
environmental causes not a disorder.
Easily treated compared to Learning disability..
Effective educational intervention can improve
difficulty in basic academic skills such as reading and writi
focus is on the functional educational difficulties
rather than on specific cause.

17. ● Conclusion
★ Parents and teachers must be aware of learning disabilities, their causes to
avoid, their symptoms to notice and their treatments to apply if needed.
★ Early diagnosis of learning disabilities will give the child a better chance of
succeeding in school and in life.

18. References
https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/learning/conditioninfo/pages/diagnosed.aspx, Website TitleNational Institutes of Health, Date
AccessedApril 15, 2017
http://www.ldonline.org/article/6027, Website TitleWho Can Diagnose LD and/or ADHD | LD Topics | LD OnLine, Article TitleWho Can
Diagnose LD and/or ADHD, Date AccessedApril 15, 2017
https://www.mhs.com/product.aspx?gr=edu&prod=lddi&id=overview, Website TitleLDDI - Learning Disabilities Diagnostic Inventory, Date
AccessedApril 15, 2017
Team, T. U. (n.d.). Auditory Processing Disorder: What You're Seeing. Retrieved April 15, 2017, from
https://www.understood.org/en/learning-attention-issues/child-learning-disabilities/auditory-processing-disorder/auditory-processing-
disorder-what-youre-seeing
About Dyscalculia . (n.d.). Retrieved April 15, 2017, from http://www.aboutdyscalculia.org/symptoms.html
Team, T. U. (n.d.). Dysgraphia: What You're Seeing. Retrieved April 15, 2017, from https://www.understood.org/en/learning-attention-
issues/child-learning-disabilities/dysgraphia/dysgraphia-what-youre-seeing
Dyslexia - Symptoms. (n.d.). Retrieved April 15, 2017, from http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Dyslexia/Pages/Symptoms.aspx
Parents. (n.d.). Retrieved April 15, 2017, from https://ldaamerica.org/types-of-learning-disabilities/language-processing-disorder/
Team, T. U. (n.d.). Nonverbal Learning Disabilities: What You're Seeing. Retrieved April 15, 2017, from
https://www.understood.org/en/learning-attention-issues/child-learning-disabilities/nonverbal-learning-disabilities/nonverbal-learning-
disabilities-what-youre-seeing
Arky, B. (n.d.). Visual Processing Issues: What You're Seeing in Your Preschooler. Retrieved April 15, 2017, from
https://www.understood.org/en/learning-attention-issues/child-learning-disabilities/visual-processing-issues/visual-processing-issues-
what-youre-seeing-in-your-preschooler

19. References
Retrieved April 16, 2017, from http://www.adcet.edu.au/disability-practitioner/reasonable-adjustments/disability-specific-adjustments/learning-
disability/learning-difficulty-versus-learning-disability/
Learning difficulty or Learning disability? (n.d.). Retrieved April 16, 2017, from
http://www.mindroom.org/index.php/learning_difficulties/what_are_learning_difficulties/learning_difficulty_or_learning_disability/
What’s the Difference Between Learning Disabilities and Intellectual Disabilities? (n.d.). Retrieved April 16, 2017, from
https://www.understood.org/en/learning-attention-issues/getting-started/what-you-need-to-know/whats-the-difference-between-learning-
disabilities-and-intellectual-disabilities
Timeline of Learning Disabilities. (n.d.). Retrieved April 18, 2017, from http://www.ldonline.org/article/11244/
What is a Learning Disability? (n.d.). Retrieved April 18, 2017, from http://www.ldonline.org/ldbasics/whatisld
Parents. (n.d.). Retrieved April 18, 2017, from https://ldaamerica.org/types-of-learning-disabilities
Causes of Learning Disabilities. (2012, July 20). Retrieved April 18, 2017, from http://www.pbs.org/parents/education/learning-
disabilities/basics/causes/

20. Done by:
Farah Kamal Alsudais - 214410260
Nada AlMasry - 214511280
Ghada AlAssaf - 214410269
Nora Al-Qahtani 216410140
Haifaa Adnan Arnous 213410357
Zainab Saleh Alsamel - 213410380
Instructor: Dr. Seema Gul