Learning disabilities are common, but are often overlooked. Having a learning disability can be isolating and challenging in school and at work. According to the LD Resources Foundation (LDRFA), learning disabilities are disorders that affect a person’s ability to understand, use spoken written language, perform mathematical calculations, coordinate movements, or direct attention. Sadly, disabilities are often not recognized until a child enters school.

The American Psychiatric Association estimates that 5 to 15% of school-aged children struggle with a learning disability, and that 80% of those with learning disorders have a reading impairment. The following are five common learning disabilities.

  • Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): About 11% of school-aged children have ADHD, according to the CDC. Symptoms include difficulty paying attention to activities or conversation, poor sleeping quality, difficulty completing tasks and holding onto a job, frequent fidgeting, excessive talking, and interrupting.
  • Dyslexia: Dyslexia can cause a person to reverse positioning of letters, experience difficulty with phonological awareness, struggle with reading comprehension, and delay speech. Spelling, copying text, and reading comprehension are more difficult for people with dyslexia.
  • Auditory processing disorder: Individuals with APD may have trouble recognizing different sounds in speech and background noise.
  • Dyscalculia: Dyscalculia often gets diagnosed with another learning disorder like dyslexia. Those with dyscalculia have difficulty memorizing arithmetic facts, following math reasoning, and performing calculations.
  • Dysgraphia: Dysgraphia affects a person’s ability to write, and can initially present as difficulty with spelling, poor handwriting, or trouble getting thoughts on paper or digitally. Symptoms are difficulty expressing thoughts clearly, messy handwriting, taking a long time to write, and difficulty organizing thoughts.

An accurate diagnosis is the first step to getting assistance with learning disabilities. Intervention can make a significant difference and help a person thrive and manage a learning disability.