What is a Learning Disability?
Definition:
Learning Disability is defined as a persistent condition of presumed neurological dysfunction which may exist with other disabling conditions. This dysfunction continues despite instruction in standard classroom situations. To be categorized as learning disabled, a student must exhibit:
- average to above-average intellectual ability;
- severe processing deficit(s);
- severe aptitude-achievement discrepancy(ies); and
- measured achievement in an instructional or employment setting.
Indicators of a Possible Learning Disability:
- Appears conscientious and motivated, but not experiencing academic success
- Takes excessively long to complete homework assignments
- Can't complete tests or in-class assignments within the allotted time
- Experiences extreme difficulty taking notes and listening to a lecture simultaneously
- Has difficulty copying from the chalkboard; has problems lining up and copying math problems
- Reads slowly with little comprehension; may experience sensation of letters becoming scrambled; eyes wandering off the line of print; inadvertent skipping of lines
- Has more success with oral testing and assignments than the written; prefers project type assignments
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Oral language confusion, mispronounces words ('minimum' for 'minimum') and misuses words (the car is a melon rather than a lemon).