10% of Children Affected by Specific Learning Disabilities

Author: University of Melbourne
Published: 2013/04/26 - Updated: 2021/05/02

Contents: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Related Publications

Synopsis: Study shows learning disabilities affect up to 10 percent of children and co-occur at higher than expected rates.

Learning Disability is defined as a classification that includes several areas of functioning in which a person has difficulty learning in a typical manner, usually caused by an unknown factor or factors.

Introduction

Study reveals learning disabilities affect up to 10 percent of children and co-occur at higher than expected rates. Up to 10 percent of the population is affected by specific learning disabilities (SLDs), such as dyslexia, dyscalculia and autism, translating to two or three pupils in every classroom, a new study has found.

Main Content

Learning Disability is defined as a classification that includes several areas of functioning in which a person has difficulty learning in a typical manner, usually caused by an unknown factor or factors. While learning disability and learning disorder are often used interchangeably, the two differ. Learning disability refers to significant learning problems in an academic area. These problems, however, are not enough to warrant an official diagnosis. Learning disorder, on the other hand, is an official clinical diagnosis, whereby the individual meets certain criteria, as determined by a professional (psychologist, pediatrician, etc.)

Led by Professor Brian Butterworth, a Professorial Fellow at the University of Melbourne's School of Psychological Sciences and Emeritus Professor of cognitive neuropsychology at University College London, the study gives insight into the underlying causes of specific learning disabilities and how to tailor individual teaching and learning for individuals and education professionals.

The study found children are frequently affected by more than one learning disability and that specific learning disabilities co-occur more often than expected. For example, in children with attention-deficit or hyperactivity disorder, 33 to 45 percent also suffer from dyslexia and 11 percent from dyscalculia, a learning disability in mathematics.

Professor Butterworth said the results showed there were many neurological development disorders that result in learning disabilities, even in children of normal or even high intelligence.

Specific learning disabilities arise from atypical brain development with complicated genetic and environmental factors, causing such conditions as dyslexia, dyscalculia, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder and specific language impairment.

As part of the study, Professor Butterworth and colleague Yulia Kovas have summarized what is known about SLD's neural and genetic basis to help clarify how these disabilities develop, helping improve teaching for individual learners, and also training for school psychologists, clinicians and teachers.

The study suggests causes of SLDs are due to difficulties processing speech, language and numbers at a cognitive level. From a neurological basis, evidence suggests each SLD is associated with an abnormality in a distinct neural network. A single neuro-physiological cause may affect distinct regions in the brain, affecting an individual's learning ability.

"We are also finally beginning to find effective ways to help learners with one or more SLDs, and although the majority of learners can usually adapt to the one-size-fits-all approach of whole class teaching, those with SLDs will need specialized support tailored to their unique combination of disabilities," he said.

Attribution/Source(s): This quality-reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by University of Melbourne and published on 2013/04/26, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.