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| Learning Disabilities Over three million school-age children are classified as having specific learning disabilities (LD). Unfortunately, this category of special need is often widely under-diagnosed and misunderstood. Surveys of both parents and educators confirm that many people mistakenly link LD with mental retardation and disorders of mental health and believe that, if left alone, children are likely to outgrow LD over time. The term, learning disability, refers to one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or using language, spoken or written, and affects a person's ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell, or do mathematical calculations. LD does not include problems primarily due to visual, hearing, or motor disabilities, although students with such diagnoses can also have learning disabilities. LD does not include problems that result primarily from mental retardation or emotional disturbance, although, again, children who experience such difficulties can also have learning disabilities. LD does not include problems that result primarily from cultural, environmental, or economic disadvantage. Learning disabilities are real. Although they often aren't observed until a child is doing school-related tasks, a proven biological basis for LD exists, including emerging data that document genetic links for LD within families. LD is common, affecting an estimated 4%-6% of the public school population. This figure is considerably higher when including individuals who struggle with reading. Learning disabilities are lifelong. That said, individuals with LD can learn to compensate for areas of weakness and, with early effective support, can be highly successful and productive members of society. Mind Matters Clinics assesses, diagnoses, and treats individuals of all ages with learning disabilities. |