A: A learning disability is a permanent condition that affects the way individuals of at least average intelligence are able to process, retain, and retrieve information.
Federal law defines a learning disability as a disorder in one of the basic psychological processes that are involved in understanding or using spoken or written language. According to federal definition, a learning disability may manifest itself in an imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell or use mathematical calculations.
A learning disability is characterized by a cognitive processing deficit. It means that because of a breakdown in cognitive processing, information is not accurately stored or retrieved from memory. Learning disabilities can specifically impair visual processing and/or memory skills, auditory processing and/or memory abilities, oral or written expression, reading, math, and/or sensory-motor skills.
The cognitive processing disorder is presumed to have its origin in central nervous system dysfunction. The learning difficulty may be in a very specific area, including the acquisition and use of listening, speaking, reading, writing, spelling, reasoning, memory or mathematical abilities, or it may involve difficulty in a combination of these areas.
A learning disability is not due to limited school experience, attendance, or unfamiliarity.
Learning disabilities are often called the “invisible” disability because they are not easily visible to others
Some of the common misperceptions of learning disabilities include:
-Students with LD really have emotional or behavioral problems.
-Students with LD cannot be successful in school or go to college.
-Students with LD will grow out of it.
-Gifted students cannot also have LD at the same time.