Learning Disabilities

Learning Disabilities Larry Burd, Ph.D CETP 1300 S Columbia Rd Grand Forks, ND 58202 701-780-2477

Many of the slides in this presentation are from the work of Pelli et al Nature (423) 752-756; 2003 or Wilson et al Nature (423) 696-697; 2003.

Learning Disabilities Etiology

Etiology • Often genes “+” disorder

Environmental Factors • Tobacco • Alcohol • Head Injury • Other

Genetic Factors • Males predominate • Familial

Developmental Course

Learning Disability % 8 6 4 2 High 5 – 8% per year 15 – 20% per year Severity & Prevalence Low Birth 4 9-10 13 18

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder % 12 10 8 6 4 2 High Hyperactivity Attention Disability 12% per year Severity & Prevalence 12% per year Low Birth 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 17 5

Syndromal Manifestations

Memory • Short Term • Anxiety • Distraction

Cognition • Prone to repeat errors • Errors often change • Main idea/big picture difficulty

Attention • Short term memory • Distractible • Impulsive

Social Skills • Impulsive • Self concept • Assertiveness • Avoidance • Anger – difficulty with criticism • Clarification

Impairment - Work • READING • Slow • Mistakes • Often passage length dependent

Impairment - Work • WRITING • Slow • Errors • Poor Legibility • Applications • Reports • Memos • Orders

Directions • Short term memory impairments • Attention • Difficulty with clarification • Organization

Psychological • Cognition • Stress • Avoidance • Temper • Impulsive

Math • Difficult reading problems • Anxiety • Oral • Calculation • Multiple steps • Tool use • Can’t do “seems about right” check

Common Error Patterns 4 5 8 3 + 2 + 6 - 3 - 5 6 11 11 8

Impairment – Training/College • READING • Slow • Comprehension defects • Vocabulary limitations • Limited experience • Figure notations – complex and dense • Directing – dense, readability very high, in high distraction position

Impairment – Training/College • WRITING • Slow • Vocabulary limitation • Spelling • Punctuation • Organization • Experience • Handwriting – poor readability • Note taking

Math • Reading is very difficult ( + x ) • Multiple steps • Poor tool use • Self confidence • Anxiety • Written • Oral

Assessment • Etiology • Course • Familial Course

Assessment • IQ • Reading rate • Standard scores • Comprehension

Written Language • Spelling • Standard score • Can person read what they have written

Other – Comorbid Conditions • ADHD • Anxiety • Depression

Plan • Start for success • Over-serve – then decrease services • Think junior or two-year college for moderate impairment • Limit course load in college

Strategies – Tools • Calculator • Read problem • Word processing • Spell checker (right-click) • Notes • Photocopies • Instructor Outlines • Note taker

Strategies - Organization • Folder for each subject • Where are the classes • Library – contact person • Schedule • Support Service • Course load – start slow

Learning Disabilities