Introduction
Learning disabilities (LD), sometimesreferred to as “specific learning disorders,”are life-long, but adults who have LD canexperience great success in all aspects oflife when using their strengths togetherwith the strategies, accommodations andtechnology that are most appropriate andeffective for their individual needs.
What are learning disabilities?
Learning disabilities are neurologicaldisabilities that affect informationprocessing. They may affect how a person learns, understands, communicates, andremembers information. Adults with LDmay have been born with their disability,or they may have acquired it later in life.
LD affects men and women equally.
There is neither one type of learningdisability nor one profile for adults withlearning disabilities. There are many different patterns of difficulties. Forexample, one adult may have a seriousreading disability, while another may be able to read adequately, but not be able tocommunicate thoughts inwriting or have difficultywith math. Most peoplewith LD (85%) have areading disability, ordyslexia (The Neurobiologyof Reading and Dyslexia, by Sally E. Shaywitz, M.D., andBennett A. Shaywitz, M.D.).Some adults with LD willhave difficulty with self-control,perceiving socialsituations appropriately,and getting along withother people.
Learn more about the types of learning disabilities here.
Learning disabilities are notrelated to low intelligence. In fact, most people with learningdisabilities have average to above averageintelligence, but the impact of the disabilitymay impair their ability to function well inschool, at home, or in the workplace.
How are adults diagnosed with LD?
A specific learning disorder is diagnosedthrough a clinical review of the individual’sdevelopmental, medical, educational, andfamily history, reports of test scores andteacher observations, and response toacademic interventions (Specific LearningDisorder fact sheet, American PsychiatricAssociation, 2013). The evaluator must be licensed to evaluate LD; typically, LDevaluations are conducted bypsychologists, psychiatrists,neuropsychologists, licensed psychologicalcounselors, or school psychologists.
Learn more about the adult assessment process.
What causes LD?
Experts aren’t exactly sure what causeslearning disabilities. Some possibilitiesinclude:
- Heredity: Learning disabilities oftenrun in the family, so many people withlearning disabilities have parents orother relatives with similar difficulties.
- Problems during pregnancy and birth: Learning disabilities may be caused by illness or injury during or before birth. It may also be caused by low birth weight, lack of oxygen, drug and alcohol use during pregnancy, and premature or prolonged labor.
- Incidents after birth: Head injuries, nutritional deprivation, and exposure to toxic substances can contribute to the development of learning disabilities.
However, LD is NOT caused by economic disadvantage or cultural differences. (http://www.pbs.org/parents/education/learning-disabilities/basics/causes/)
Characteristics of adults with LD
Positive characteristics of adults with LD may include problem-solving skills, compensatory strategies, persistence, empathy, and outgoing personalities. Areas of difficulty include:
- difficulty with reading, writing and/or math;
- poor memory;
- difficulty following directions;
- inability to discriminate between or among letters, numbers, and/or sounds;
- eye-hand coordination problems;
- difficulty putting things in the right sequence;
- disorganization; and/or
- difficulty adjusting to change.
Legal rights of adults with LD
Adults with LD are protected by several civil rights laws, including the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504; the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 and the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA) of 2008; and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act 2015, Subtitle F, Rights and Advocacy. In addition to these laws, the 5th and 14th Amendments to the Constitution provide equal protection under the law related to governmental actions.
Learn more about the ADA and accommodations in the workplace.
Strategies, Accommodations and Technology
Typical strategies and accommodations that may help adults with LD include reading out loud, audio texts, color-coding for organization, use of graphic organizers (charts, diagrams, etc.), having opportunities to re-state information in one’s own words, and one-on-one instruction in school or job training. Assistive technology (AT) is also helpful for adults with LD – at home, school, and work. You can find free or low cost assistive technology apps through Georgia Tech’s Tools for Life App Finder.
Additional Resources
All of the links for information about adults with LD, https://ldaamerica.org/adults/
Job Accommodation Network, http://www.jan.wvu.edu/
