Other Learning Disabilities FAQs

Basic information for topics, such as “What is it?” is available in the About Learning Disabilities section. This section covers other Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on aphasia and dyspraxia, which are not learning disabilities. Aphasia and dyspraxia are distinct conditions that may be confused with learning disabilities.

A person with aphasia has trouble understanding spoken language, poor reading comprehension, trouble writing, and trouble finding words to express thoughts and feelings.1 Aphasia occurs when the language areas of the brain are damaged. In adults, it often is caused by stroke, but children may get aphasia from a brain tumor, head injury, or brain infection.2

Some of the other symptoms of aphasia include:1

  • Trouble talking in complete sentences
  • Trouble writing sentences
  • Trouble spelling
  • Saying the wrong word or using made-up words
  • Trouble telling time, counting money, or doing arithmetic3

Some people with learning disabilities have dyspraxia. This condition involves problems with motor coordination. People with dyspraxia may have poor balance or be clumsy. They may have poor hand-eye coordination, making it hard for them to do fine motor tasks, such as putting puzzles together and coloring within the lines.4 Occupational and speech therapy can help people compensate for these difficulties.5 Examples of the ways schools help children with dyspraxia include the following4:

  • Quiet learning environment. Educators can provide a child who is sensitive to noise and distractions with a quiet place for tests, silent reading, and other tasks that require concentration.
  • Alerting the child in advance. Alerting a child who is sensitive to noise about upcoming events, such as fire drills and assemblies, may help.
  • Occupational therapy. Exercises that focus on the tasks of daily living can help a child with poor coordination.

Citations

  1. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. (2017). Aphasia information page. Retrieved August 7, 2018, from https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/All-Disorders/Aphasia-Information-Page
  2. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. (n.d.). Aphasia. Retrieved August 7, 2018, from https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/aphasia
  3. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (n.d.). Aphasia. Retrieved August 7, 2018, from https://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/aphasia/ 
  4. Learning Disabilities Association of America. (n.d.). Dyspraxia. Retrieved August 7, 2018, from https://ldaamerica.org/disabilities/dyspraxia/ 
  5. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. (2017). Developmental dyspraxia information page. Retrieved August 7, 2018, from https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/All-Disorders/Developmental-Dyspraxia-Information-Page
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