Children With Learning Disabilities

If you’re on this page, we know you are interested in learning disabilities. Maybe you have a child, a friend, a family member, or another loved one with a learning disability. This page is here to help you learn a little bit about learning disabilities, and then find other areas of our site where there are more facts, tools, and ways to get support.

Quick Links

• What Is a Learning Disability?
• Signs and Symptoms
• Resources, Services, and Support

What Is a Learning Disability?

Children with learning disabilities do not process or understand information in the same way as children with typical development. By processing, we mean that a child hears, touches, sees, reads, or smells something that sends a message to their brains. Then, they make sense of what is going on and possibly take action. When a child has a processing difference or learning disability, the information might not flow to and from their brain and body as smoothly. It might get stuck or take a turn along the way.

Types of Learning Disabilities

Here are a few of the most common learning disabilities:

• Dyslexia is difficulty with written information, such as letters, words, and numbers.
• Dysgraphia is difficulty with putting thoughts and ideas into writing.
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is difficulty controlling focus, impulse, energy levels, or some mix of the three.
• Dyscalculia is severe difficulty with numbers and patterns.
• Auditory Processing Disorder is difficulty with heard information, like instructions from a teacher or a parent.