Preface

Learning disability, or learning disorder, is an umbrella term for a wide variety of learning problems in which a person has difficulty learning in a typical manner, usually caused by an unknown factor. The unknown factor is the disorder that affects the brain's ability to receive and process information. That is, the brain of people with learning disabilities is wired differently and this difference affects how they receive and process information. This disorder can make it problematic for a person to learn as quickly or in the same way as someone who is not affected by a learning disability. Specific learning disability is defined as a heterogeneous group of disorders that is manifested by significant difficulties in verbal expression-comprehension, reading, writing and mathematical reasoning and ability, and it presumably stems from a dysfunction of the central nervous system. While these conditions are essentially conceptual and define learning disabilities as intrinsic to the individual and with a biological-genetic basis, they can coexist with problems in self-regulatory behaviors, social perception and interaction. They can also exist together with other disabilities, such as sensory impairment, mental retardation, severe emotional disorders or with extrinsic factors such as cultural differences or inadequate schooling. Depending on the type and severity of the disability, interventions may be used to help the individual learn strategies that will foster future success. Some interventions can be quite simplistic, while others are intricate and complex. Teachers and parents will be a part of the intervention in terms of how they aid the individual in successfully completing different tasks. This book is divided into three main parts; myths and fundamental concept, diagnosis and intervention of learning disabilities, and neurodevelopmental disorders, respectively. Thus it deserves a wide audience; it will be beneficial not only for teachers and parents struggling with attachment or behavior issues, but it will also benefit health care professionals and therapists working directly with learning disabled persons or special needs such as sensory integration dysfunction.

**Dr. Wichian Sittiprapaporn**

Faculty of Medicine, Mahasarakham University, College of Research Methodology and Cognitive Science, Burapha University, Thailand

**Part 1** 

**Learning Disabilities**
