The Merck Online Medical Library defines a learning disorder as a condition that prevents a person from being able to "acquire, retain, or broadly use specific skills and information" due to deficiencies in certain areas that affect academic performance. Learning disorders are not indicators of intelligence and differ from learning problems caused by disease or psycho/sociological concerns. Most types of childhood learning difficulties fall into three general areas: mathematics disorders, reading disorders and disorders of written expression.
Mathematic Disorders
Mathematic learning disorders are grouped under the common term dyscalculia. These disorders can affect a child's ability to understand time, count money and perform mathematical calculations. In younger children, signs of dyscalculia may include difficulty recognizing printed numbers, difficulty relating numbers to physical objects or an inability to logical organize objects by common denominators, including the size or color. Older children may have difficulties learning math facts, remembering math processes, estimating totals or developing strategies for solving problems. Although no one knows exactly what causes dyscalculia, the National Center for Learning Disabilities indicates people with dyscalculia often have difficulties processing what they see visually and also may have problems processing what they hear.
Reading Disorders
Although generally referred to as a reading disorder, dyslexia is a learning disability that can have a wide ranging effect on a child's ability to communicate effectively. The most common symptoms of dyslexia are difficulties with reading, writing and spelling. Less recognized symptoms, however, can include difficulties with understanding abstract or non-literal language, such as jokes or idioms, and difficulties with verbal expression due to an inability to easily access the vocabulary needed to fully verbalize a thought. Children with dyslexia may also appear to have problems following directions due to difficulties understanding verbal instructions. According to Nemours, a nonprofit children's health care organization, dyslexia affects between 15 percent to 20 percent of the American population.
Written Disorders
Dysgraphia is a learning disorder that specifically affects a child's ability to effectively communicate via the written word. Dysgraphia is actually a processing disorder in which a child may have difficulties managing the motor skills needed to physically write. Symptoms of dysgraphia can include illegible handwriting, a noticeably awkward pencil grip and body position, an inability to write between lines, mixing capital and lower case letters in words inappropriately, omitting words when writing and becoming quickly tired out when writing. A child with dysgraphia will generally avoid writing or drawing whenever possible and may show a large difference between how well he verbally communicates an idea and how he can communicate the same idea in written form.
