**4.4 Learning disabilities**

Learning disabilities are problems that affect the brain's ability to receive, process, analyze, or store information. These problems can make it difficult for a student to learn as quickly as someone who is not affected by learning disabilities (Mediline Plus (2011).

The following is a list of common characteristics of an LD student. Conditions must be persistent over a long period of time. Presence of these conditions does not necessarily mean a person is learning disabled.

#### **4.4.1 Reading skills**


### **4.4.2 Spelling skills**


Language Disabilities: Myths and Misconceptions vs. Reality 11

Quite often slow learners are confused with reluctant learners. It is claimed that though they are willing to learn, they have problems with the process. This is due to four

Medium Instruction Defective vision Illiterate parents

Violence in School Hereditary reasons

Resource problems Low environment

Low cultural background

Physical impairments

Contact with peers Family size

Prevalence in no way can be considered a reliable indicator. Determining the number of children with disabilities with accuracy is not feasible. Parents are reluctant to have their children identified to having disabilities and tend to consider such classification as a family stigma. Moreover in most cases they are unaware of such situations. At the moment, the

**Psychological School problems Health Problems Family Problems** 

Absenteeism Untrained Teachers Poor health Busy parents

Inadequate teaching

Table 3. Factors influencing slow-learners Source: Author's research team.

staff

**5. Causes of learning impairments** 

specific factors (Table 3)

• **Slow Learners** 

Deprived Culture

Emotional Growth

• **Learning Disorders** 

• Brain infections • Visual problems • Language processing • Attention deficit • Medical conditions

• **Learning Difficulties** 

• **Learning Disabilities**  • Genetic Influences • Brain Development • Environmental impacts

**6. Prevalence** 

• Neurological abnormalities

• Pre-natal (example Down syndrome)

• Post-natal (example Meningitis)

• Per-natal ( oxygen deprivation, cerebral palsy)
