Skip to main content

Learning Disabilities

What are Learning Disabilities?

Learning disabilities are disorders that affect the ability to understand or use spoken or written language, do mathematical calculations, coordinate movements, or direct attention. Although learning disabilities occur in very young children, the disorders are usually not recognized until the child reaches school age. Research shows that 8 to 10 percent of American children under 18 years of age have some type of learning disability.

Is there any treatment?

The most common treatment for learning disabilities is special education. Specially trained educators may perform a diagnostic educational evaluation assessing the child's academic and intellectual potential and level of academic performance. Once the evaluation is complete, the basic approach is to teach learning skills by building on the child's abilities and strengths while correcting and compensating for disabilities and weaknesses. Other professionals such as speech and language therapists also may be involved. Some medications may be effective in helping the child learn by enhancing attention and concentration. Psychological therapies may also be used.

What is the prognosis?

Learning disabilities can be lifelong conditions. In some people, several overlapping learning disabilities may be apparent. Other people may have a single, isolated learning problem that has little impact on their lives.

What research is being done?

The NINDS and other institutes of the National Institutes of Health including the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, and the National Institute of Mental Health support research on learning disabilities. Current research avenues focus on developing techniques to diagnose and treat learning disabilities and increase understanding of the biological basis of learning disabilities.

Go to the Clinical Trials website to view a list of studies currently seeking patients.

Organizations

CHADD - Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

8181 Professional Place

Suite 150

Landover, MD 20785

https://chadd.org/

Tel: 301-306-7070 800-233-4050

Fax: 301-306-7090
International Dyslexia Association

8600 LaSalle Road

Chester Building, Ste. 382

Baltimore, MD 21286-2044

info@interdys.org

https://dyslexiaida.org/

Tel: 410-296-0232 800-ABCD123

Fax: 410-321-5069
Learning Disabilities Association of America

4156 Library Road

Suite 1

Pittsburgh, PA 15234-1349

info@ldaamerica.org

https://ldaamerica.org/

Tel: 412-341-1515

Fax: 412-344-0224
National Center for Learning Disabilities

381 Park Avenue South

Suite 1401

New York, NY 10016

https://www.ncld.org/

Tel: 212-545-7510 888-575-7373

Fax: 212-545-9665
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

National Institutes of Health, DHHS

31 Center Drive, Rm. 2A32 MSC 2425

Bethesda, MD 20892-2425

https://www.nichd.nih.gov

Tel: 301-496-5133

Fax: 301-496-7101
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

National Institutes of Health, DHHS

6001 Executive Blvd. Rm. 8184, MSC 9663

Bethesda, MD 20892-9663

nimhinfo@nih.gov

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/index.shtml

Tel: 301-443-4513/866-615-NIMH (-6464) 301-443-8431 (TTY)

Fax: 301-443-4279

Article Source
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Source URL
Last Reviewed