Amongst parents and educators, there is often confusion regarding the definition of a Learning Disability. Defining a learning disability is important if your child is going to have access to appropriate academic support and accommodation within the school system.  One such definition is offered by the Learning Disability Association of Ontario and is the definition used by most psychologists when it comes to diagnosing a child. According to this definition a “learning disability” refers to a “variety of disorders that affect the acquisition, retention, understanding, organization or use of verbal and/or nonverbal information.”

Diagnosis of Learning Disabilities in Children

In order to qualify for such a diagnosis, your child must have average abilities, essential for thinking and reasoning.  Despite these average abilities, when a child has a learning disability, there are impairments in one or more psychological processes related to learning that become roadblocks to the child’s ability to reach their intellectual potential.  It is important to know that learning disabilities reflect specific not global impairments and as such are distinct from intellectual disabilities.

Learning disabilities range in severity and interfere with the acquisition and use of one or more of the following skills:

  • Oral language (listening, speaking, understanding)
  • Reading (decoding, comprehension)
  • Written language (spelling and written expression)
  • Math (computation, problem solving)

Learning disabilities may also cause problems with organizational skills, executive functioning and understanding social cues and social interaction.

Learning Disabilities as Your Child Grows Up and Encounters Obstacles

The impairments of a learning disability are generally life-long, however their effects may be expressed differently over time. This usually depends upon the demands of your child’s environment and individual characteristics. Some impairments may be evident during the pre-school years, while others may not become evident until much later.  During the school years, learning disabilities are suggested by low academic achievement or by achievement that is sustainable only by extremely high levels of effort and support, despite average aptitude.

Learning disabilities frequently co-exist with other conditions, including attentional, behavioural and emotional disorders.  They can also co-exist with sensory impairments or other medical conditions.  While learning disabilities are not caused by cultural or language differences, inadequate instruction, socio-economic status or lack of motivation, these and other factors may compound the impact of the disability. There is no known cause to a learning disability, although genetic factors and congenital and neuro-biological factors may play a role.

Success for Children with Learning Disabilities

For success, individuals diagnosed with a learning disability may require specialized interventions at home, school and in the workplace in order to reach their potential.  These interventions include:

  • Specific skills instruction
  • The development of compensatory strategies
  • Appropriate accommodations
  • Technological aids
  • The development of self-advocacy skills.

In order to achieve success, a good first step is to confirm that your child has a learning disability. If you suspect that you or your child might be struggling with a learning disability, contact a Registered Psychologist, qualified to provide a comprehensive assessment.

Alter, Stuckler & Associates are a team of registered psychologists and a social worker that provide compassionate psychological care. We have provided service to individuals, couples and families from Thornhill, Markham, Vaughan and throughout the Greater Toronto Area for more than 30 years. Have a question for our team? Contact us today.