The Genetic Factors of Learning Disabilities Essay

“Specific learning disability means a disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using language, spoken or written, that may manifest itself in the imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell, or to do mathematical calculations, including conditions such as perceptual disabilities, brain injury, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia, and developmental aphasia. Specific learning disability does not include learning problems that are primarily the result of visual, hearing, or motor disabilities, of mental retardation, of emotional disturbance, or of environmental, cultural, or economic disadvantage” (Special Education Guide, 2017).

The Diagnostic Criteria for learning disabilities (according to the DSM V) is a specific learning disorder which is diagnosed through an examination of the child’s developmental, educational, medical and responses of various interventions that have been tried. The diagnosis is a constant difficulty in reading, writing, and arithmetic during the years of schooling. Symptoms can include imprecise or slow reading, writing that lacks clarity and content, and difficulty remembering mathematical reason and number facts. The academic level must be significantly below average in all areas; and the child’s difficulties cannot be explained by any other disorders and it has to interfere greatly with academic achievement, performance and daily living.

A learning disability is caused by the way the brain develops. There are many different types and most develop before a baby is born, during birth or because of a serious illness in early childhood. A learning disability is life long and usually has a significant impact on a person's life.

There are many different types of learning disabilities; the most common ones are dyslexia and attention deficit disorder. (Jerome Rosner. –third ed. 1)

IDEA defines a learning disability as a disorder in understanding or using language, spoken or written, that may manifest itself in an imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell or do mathematical calculations. Learning disabilities are a life-long issue. Language problems that go untreated in the early years of school can continue into high school and adulthood. As a child who suffered with an Auditory Processing Disorder (APD), early intervention was very important for me to progress in school. I continue to this day, to utilize and build on compensatory techniques taught by my grade school Speech Pathologist. Henceforth, I have been able to succeed in school, social settings and now in college.

In the UK 2% of the population suffer from learning disabilities. A learning disability is the name given to any condition which drastically affects an individual’s ability to process and comprehend new information, acquire new skills, and successfully carry out everyday tasks without the aid of another.

Downs syndrome-anyone who has downs syndrome is likely to have some level of learning disability, usually children are able to do the majority of tasks themselves, however they may reach certain milestones slightly later than some of their peers. ADD/ADHD-children with this diagnosis can suffer with many difficulties as they grow, they may be irritable, can be

The causes of most learning disabilities are for the most part unknown. However, there are quite a few factors that can contribute to the development of these disabilities. Some of these few known factors include being hereditarily passed down as well as certain changes and alterations in the developmental process of the embryo including Down ’s syndrome. Another influence is the introduction and exposure of toxic substances during pregnancy including alcohol or infection during pregnancy. Other factors that can play a part occur during the birthing process. These include any kind stress or injury that can occur, especially to the brain (healthy children, 2013).

Learning disabilities are neurologically based processing problems that can interfere with higher-level skills such as organization, time planning, abstract reasoning, long or short-term memory and attention. (Pardun, 2015)

Students with learning disabilities struggling with so many things and in so many ways. Problems with listening, reasoning, memory, attention, selecting and focusing on relevant stimuli, and the perception and processing of visual and/or auditory information are experienced by students with learning disabilities (Heward, 2010). These difficulties and struggles with learning may grow more apparent by middle school and will often continue for a life time. Not learning to read,

The Equality Act 2010 requires equal treatment regardless of disability to employment as well as private and public service. Therefore employers and service providers must make reasonable adjustments to their workplaces in order to make it suitable and easily accessible for those with disabilities. Learning disability may at times be referred to as learning disorder or learning difficulty. This is when a person's brain is affected by factors that make it difficult for them to receive or process information in the typical manner. This prevents the individual from learning as quickly as someone without the disorder. Those with learning disabilities tend to find it difficult completing tasks when left to their own accord. A person's intellectual impairment can be categorised using their IQ. With an IQ between 50-70 is considered a mild disability, 35-50 is moderate, 20-35 is severe while below 20 is Learning disability occurs when a person's brain development is affected. According to http://www.nhs.uk there are particular situations that affect the development of a person's brain, these includes; 'the mother becoming ill in pregnancy problems during the birth that stop enough oxygen getting to the brain the unborn baby developing certain genes the parents passing certain genes to the unborn baby that make

"Attention deficit and disruptive behavior disorders include three diagnoses: attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, and conduct disorder. All three of these disorders are characterized by externalizing behaviors in which children "act out" and fail to conform to the behavioral standards of their homes, school, and communities" (Hansell & Damour, 2005, p.454).

The most common form of inherited mental retardation (MR) is Fragile X syndrome. The mutation of the gene completely turns off and does not produce the protein needed to make certain all other genes function properly. It is linked to other disorders. There are many characteristics connected to Fragile X. For example, neurological, physical, and psychiatric. The cognitive and behavioral attributes are more significant since they affect how the child will learn and function. Fragile X children are oversensitive to noise and the activity going on nearby. They will often throw tantrums and be aggressive (Braden, M., n.d.). Although, this syndrome does not have a cure these children may be helped with early intervention. Methods of

The LDA organization offers specific information on a number of disabilities that children are afflicted with, including dyslexia, dyscalculia, central auditory processing disorder, non-verbal learning disorders, language disorders and writing disorders (dysgraphia). The LDA site notes that "learning disabilities" is actually an "umbrella" term alluding to a number of disabilities.

Additional impairments have been noted. These include: anxiety, depression, short-term memory problems, and attention problems (Appleford School, 2008; Vasconcelos, 2009). As such, a variety of comorbid disorders have also been identified, such as ADHD, dyslexia, and Asperger’s syndrome. Due to the high prevalence of co-occurrence, some psychologists question