Learning disability
- What were the fields of medicine and the doctors who initially discovered and coined the term “word blindness”? What is word blindness and what are the characteristics of this condition? How does the term “dyslexia” relate to this condition?
The term text blindness was coined by a German neurologist Adolf Kussamaul in 1877, German physician Rudolf Berlin in the same year, and Ophthalmologist James Hinshelwood in 1895. Word blindness is a complex learning disability characterized by the visual inability to understand and text. But it is worth noting that speech and intellect power for people with disability is not affected. Dyslexia is related to word blindness in that dyslexia refers to the difficulty in interpreting printed or written symbol for someone with no visual disability therefore an advanced and current form of word blindness.
- Who was the first person to use the term “learning disability”? When?
The term was “learning disability” was first used in 1963 by Samuel A. kirk at a conference in Chicago.
- What significant law was passed in 1969? How did this change services for students with learning disabilities?
In 1969 children with specific disabilities act was passed by congress and changed the services for children with disabilities since it constituted a federal; law that pushed for the establishment of support services for children with learning disabilities. This act was included in the (PL 91-230) education of the handicapped act of 1970.
- What legislation was developed in 1975 and 1987 that significantly impacted services for students with learning disabilities?
In 1975 the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (PL 94-142) which was later renamed IDEA in 1990 was developed. The act pushed for the establishment of the necessary free public education for all children. Later in 1987 the Interagency Committee on Learning Disabilities released a report called for the establishment of Centers for the Study of Learning and Attention to expand understanding and research of the issues addressed by the PL 94-142
- What important discovery was found in 1996 that helped doctors understand dyslexia better?
In 1996 Dr. Guinevere Eden and her research team at the National Institute of Mental Health discovered that (fMRI) functional magnetic resonance imaging could be used to look at the brain activities and identify areas behaving differently for dyslexic patients. In the same year LD Online developed the first web resource that allowed parents and teachers to look for ways to help students with learning disabilities.
- How did the revisions of IDEA in 1997 and 2004 impact how services were provided to students with learning disabilities?*Video clip: Watch the short clip listed that defines Learning Disabilities.
In 1997 IDEA reauthorized that regular education teacher be included in the IEP process, students to be included in state wide assessment, have access to the general curriculum and ADHD to be included in condition that made students to be eligible for services under other health impairment. In 2004 there was another reauthorization by IDEA requiring school personnel to have more authority in special education placement decisions and the new law was better aligned with the No Child Left behind Act. All these changes were done with the understanding the children with disabilities have challenges associated with attention, organization, social skills and anxiety but all these changes in different life stages. It is worth noting that people with learning disabilities are intelligent and gifted thus the need for their inclusion in general curriculum, test and other activities.
- After reading a few of the many definitions of a learning disability, which do you think best explains the characteristics of this condition? Why?
The best definition that explains the characteristics of learning disabilities well is that by Merriam Webster. The definition offers examples of learning disabilities, and provides examples of learning difficulties associated with the condition as well as another name for the condition in a simplified manner. The definition makes it easier for one to understand the condition.
- List and describe the types of learning disabilities.
Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)/ Central Auditory Processing Disorder– This is a problem associated with how the bran understands sound that gets in through the ear. People with this condition have difficulty recognizing sound differences in words a, knowing the source of sound, blocking competing background noises or making sense of the order of sounds.
Dyscalculia is a learning disabilities associated with numerical problem making it difficult for one to understand learn or make simple arithmetic calculations. People with this condition find it difficult to memorize and organize numbers, counting, telling time hand have poor compression of math symbols.
Dysgraphia is an LD that affect the ability to write coherently and fine motor skills. Problem associated with dysgraphia include poor handwriting, spelling mistakes, inconsistent spacing and difficulty in writing and thinking at the same time among others
Dyslexia is a condition that affect reading and related language based processing skills. Symptom and severity differ among individuals but usually affect reading comprehension, writing, recalling, reading, and speech among others.
Language Processing Disorder– This a special type of Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) associated with difficulty expressing, recognizing, understanding and receiving language. APD affects interpretation of all sound getting into the brain but LPD only affects the processing of language. Therefore LPD can affect expressive language and/or receptive language.
Nonverbal learning disabilities (NVLD/NLD) is a LD characterized by discrepancy between higher verbal skills and weaker motor, social and visual special skills. Children with this disorder have trouble interpreting non verbal cues and may have poor coordination. The disorder affects children’s social skills but Writing and speech skills are not affected.
Visual Perceptual/Visual Motor Deficit is a disorder that affects the ability to understand the information that an individual sees or the ability to copy or draw. The disorder is usually common in people with Dysgraphia or Non-verbal LD. Some of its characteristics include missing small differences in shapes or printed letters, holding pen too tightly, struggles with cutting and poor eye/ hand coordination.