“Learning disability” is a generic term that refers to a mixed group of disorders exhibited by significant difficulties in acquiring and use of listening, speaking, reading, writing, reasoning, or mathematical abilities. 

Most students with a learning disability (LD) have difficulty in one specific area and perform well in others.  Common areas of difficulty are: reading, math, writing, spelling and high distractibility.

Students who are identified as having learning disabilities are often (not always) strong visual, hands-on learners who benefit from such presentations as videos, films, overhead transparencies, modeling, and demonstrations.  They learn best when the context is presented first, and facts are added to the big picture.  One identifying characteristic is the disparity between the individual’s performance in one area and another.  For example, some students with learning disabilities excel at class participation, where the emphasis is upon auditory processing, but fail to follow through with the same success at written tasks such as exams.

Some students who have become adept at compensating for their LD are knowledgeable about their needs and are comfortable asking for help.  Others are not as comfortable identifying himself or herself as a person with a disability and may not be willing to ask for assistance until they fail an exam.

Next:  What are mental or psychological (disorders) disabilities?