Learning Disability

Learning Disability refers to difficulties with acquiring, organizing, remembering, or understanding information. A person with a learning disability may have impaired language processing, phonological processing, visual spatial processing, processing speed, memory and attention, and/or executive functions (e.g. planning and decision-making). These difficulties impact upon oral language, reading, writing, and math. People with a learning disability still have average intelligence, thinking and reasoning skills, which makes it different from a global delay. A red flag that a child may have a learning disability is unexpected underachieving despite high effort and support. Learning disabilities are life long, so getting help from a professional to help facilitate success in school is important. 

A Speech-Language Pathologist can help with learning disabilities. They can assess the different language-based skill areas (e.g. reading, writing, oral language, information processing, memory, attention, etc.) and help improve performance in these areas. They can work one-to-one with the student but will also connect with the school/teacher to give suggestions on how they can best help the student in the classroom. 

Treatment with the Speech-Language Pathologist usually focuses on:

• specific skill instruction

• accommodations

• compensatory strategies

• self-advocacy skills