{"id":17343,"date":"2024-07-15T20:19:14","date_gmt":"2024-07-15T20:19:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/centam.ardecom.com\/?page_id=17343"},"modified":"2026-02-16T16:33:28","modified_gmt":"2026-02-16T16:33:28","slug":"learning-disability","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/centam.ca\/en\/learning-disability\/","title":{"rendered":"What is a Learning Disability?"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"17343\" class=\"elementor elementor-17343 elementor-15668\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-03a40a2 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"03a40a2\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-114bb31 elementor-widget elementor-widget-template\" data-id=\"114bb31\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"template.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-template\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"container\" data-elementor-id=\"14803\" class=\"elementor elementor-14803\" data-elementor-post-type=\"elementor_library\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6a0e6c37 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"6a0e6c37\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;gradient&quot;}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1f9f129c e-grid e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"1f9f129c\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-67d11c39 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"67d11c39\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What is a Learning Disability?<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-20a4ba12 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"20a4ba12\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2cecb002 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2cecb002\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAccording to the World Health Organization, a learning disability is a medical term referring to a permanent disorder of neurological origin. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6a5e0a9 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"6a5e0a9\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fdf0418 elementor-toc--minimized-on-tablet elementor-widget elementor-widget-table-of-contents\" data-id=\"fdf0418\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;exclude_headings_by_selector&quot;:[],&quot;headings_by_tags&quot;:[&quot;h2&quot;,&quot;h3&quot;,&quot;h4&quot;,&quot;h5&quot;,&quot;h6&quot;],&quot;marker_view&quot;:&quot;numbers&quot;,&quot;no_headings_message&quot;:&quot;No headings were found on this page.&quot;,&quot;minimize_box&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;minimized_on&quot;:&quot;tablet&quot;,&quot;hierarchical_view&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;min_height&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;min_height_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;min_height_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}\" data-widget_type=\"table-of-contents.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-toc__header-title\">\n\t\t\t\tTable of contents\t\t\t<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__toggle-button elementor-toc__toggle-button--expand\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"elementor-toc__fdf0418\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-label=\"Open table of contents\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-chevron-down\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M207.029 381.476L12.686 187.132c-9.373-9.373-9.373-24.569 0-33.941l22.667-22.667c9.357-9.357 24.522-9.375 33.901-.04L224 284.505l154.745-154.021c9.379-9.335 24.544-9.317 33.901.04l22.667 22.667c9.373 9.373 9.373 24.569 0 33.941L240.971 381.476c-9.373 9.372-24.569 9.372-33.942 0z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__toggle-button elementor-toc__toggle-button--collapse\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"elementor-toc__fdf0418\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-label=\"Close table of contents\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-chevron-up\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M240.971 130.524l194.343 194.343c9.373 9.373 9.373 24.569 0 33.941l-22.667 22.667c-9.357 9.357-24.522 9.375-33.901.04L224 227.495 69.255 381.516c-9.379 9.335-24.544 9.317-33.901-.04l-22.667-22.667c-9.373-9.373-9.373-24.569 0-33.941L207.03 130.525c9.372-9.373 24.568-9.373 33.941-.001z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-toc__fdf0418\" class=\"elementor-toc__body\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__spinner-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg class=\"elementor-toc__spinner eicon-animation-spin e-font-icon-svg e-eicon-loading\" aria-hidden=\"true\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 1000\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M500 975V858C696 858 858 696 858 500S696 142 500 142 142 304 142 500H25C25 237 238 25 500 25S975 237 975 500 763 975 500 975Z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e27c28a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e27c28a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>What is a Learning Disability?<\/h2><p>According to the World Health Organization, a learning disability is a medical term referring to a permanent disorder of neurological origin. A learning disability involves impairments affecting one or more neuropsychological functions, disrupting the acquisition, understanding, use, and processing of verbal or non-verbal information. It is not caused by intellectual disability, sensory deficits (e.g., hearing or vision), lack of educational support, lack of motivation, or adverse socio-economic conditions.<\/p><p>Studies estimate that about 10\u201315% of the population is affected by this condition. Learning disabilities can be present from birth (genetic or congenital origins) or acquired (e.g., from brain injury).<\/p><h3>What Criteria Are Used to Diagnose Learning Disabilities?<\/h3><p>The diagnostic criteria for identifying learning disabilities have been established by the American Psychiatric Association (DSM) and the World Health Organization (ICD). These criteria are internationally recognized by scientific and medical authorities.<\/p><p>A key criterion for diagnosing a learning disability is a discrepancy of at least two years between intellectual performance and academic achievement. This discrepancy cannot be explained by:<\/p><ol><li>a) intellectual disability,<br \/>b) psycho-affective disorders,<br \/>c) sensory deficits (vision or hearing),<br \/>d) lack of educational opportunities, or<br \/>e) lack of motivation and interest.<\/li><\/ol><p>Therefore, diagnosing a learning disability or learning disorder requires a comprehensive analysis of the child or adult&#8217;s overall profile, including academic history, intellectual assessment, and psycho-affective profile. Only neuropsychologists or psychologists specialized in learning disability assessments are qualified to conduct this comprehensive analysis.<\/p><p><strong>Learning Disabilities May Stem From One or More of the Following Neuropsychological Disorders or Syndromes:<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>Dyslexia<\/li><li>Dysorthographia<\/li><li>Dyscalculia<\/li><li>Developmental language disorder<\/li><li>Developmental coordination disorder<\/li><li>Attention deficit (with or without hyperactivity)<\/li><li>Executive function disorders<\/li><li>Memory disorders<\/li><li>Autism spectrum disorder<\/li><li>Tourette syndrome<\/li><li>Chromosomal syndromes (e.g., Klinefelter, Turner).<\/li><\/ul><p>Learning disabilities or learning disorders are lifelong conditions that constitute genuine handicaps. They affect not only academic performance but also interpersonal relationships, daily activities, and workplace tasks.<\/p><p><strong>Impacts on School Performance and Self-Esteem<\/strong><br \/>At school, students with learning disabilities often struggle with poor grades or even failures in one or more subjects, despite significant effort. This can lead to reduced self-esteem. Early identification and appropriate interventions are therefore essential for effective support.<\/p><p><strong>Definition by Quebec&#8217;s Ministry of Education<\/strong><br \/>According to the Ministry of Education of Quebec:<br \/><em>&#8220;The overall situation of the student (including academic, psychological, medical, or other relevant data) must be considered when determining the presence of specific disabilities. Specific disabilities refer to a heterogeneous set of persistent difficulties observable in processes required for language development, use, or comprehension.&#8221;<\/em><\/p><p><strong>Examples of Observed Manifestations:<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>Difficulty with reading skills<\/li><li>Difficulty with writing skills<\/li><li>Difficulty communicating orally<\/li><li>Challenges in conceptualization or reasoning<\/li><\/ul><h3>Learning Disabilities vs. Learning Difficulties<\/h3><ul><li><strong>Learning Disabilities<\/strong>: Persistent, permanent, and unrelated to intelligence or socio-emotional factors. While no cure exists, tailored interventions and accommodations can greatly improve learning and performance.<\/li><li><strong>Learning Difficulties<\/strong>: Temporary obstacles linked to life circumstances (e.g., grief, anxiety, financial hardships). These usually resolve when the underlying issues are addressed.<\/li><\/ul><h3>Signs Suggesting a Possible Learning Disability (learning disorder)<\/h3><ul><li>The student fails to meet academic expectations.<\/li><li>The student meets expectations but only with significant effort.<\/li><li>Behavioral problems are present.<\/li><li>Emotional issues (e.g., anxiety, depression) arise.<\/li><\/ul><h3>How to Intervene<\/h3><p>A thorough neuropsychological evaluation is the first step to precisely diagnosing the learning disability and helping the child, adult, or caregivers understand its origin. Such an evaluation identifies the individual&#8217;s learning style, enabling them to use strengths to compensate for weaknesses.<\/p><p><strong>A Neuropsychological Evaluation Can Identify Impairments in the Following Functions:<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>Attention<\/li><li>Memory<\/li><li>Reasoning<\/li><li>Conceptualization<\/li><li>Planning<\/li><li>Organization<\/li><li>Perception<\/li><li>Visual-spatial skills<\/li><li>Processing speed or execution speed<\/li><li>Coordination<\/li><li>Motor skills<\/li><li>Communication (expression and comprehension)<\/li><li>Reading<\/li><li>Writing<\/li><li>Spelling<\/li><li>Math<\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Key Outcomes of a Neuropsychological Evaluation:<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>Provide a precise diagnosis and identify the associated neuropsychological profile.<\/li><li>Help individuals and their support network (parents, partners, family, educators) understand the nature of their challenges and respect their limits.<\/li><li>Determine the most conducive environment for the individual&#8217;s growth (tailoring educational approaches to their needs).<\/li><li>Equip parents and adults with learning disabilities with tools to advocate for necessary resources and support.<\/li><li>Develop an individualized intervention plan, including neuropsychological, educational, speech therapy, or occupational therapy strategies.<\/li><li>Recommend accommodations to optimize learning, performance, and well-being.<\/li><\/ul><p>\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Table of contents &nbsp; What is a Learning Disability? According to the World Health Organization, a learning disability is a medical term referring to a permanent disorder of neurological origin. A learning disability involves impairments affecting one or more neuropsychological functions, disrupting the acquisition, understanding, use, and processing of verbal or non-verbal information. It is [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":39,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"no-sidebar","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"full-width-container","site-content-style":"unboxed","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"disabled","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"disabled","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"enabled","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"default","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center 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