Learning Disorders: Types, Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments

Learning disorders are difficulties that some boys and girls have when learning to read, write, calculate… They are usually detected in the schooling stage, and are becoming more and more frequent. This is explained by the fact that the beginning of the teaching is progressing more and more.

In this article we will learn about the different learning disorders proposed by the DSM-IV-TR and the DSM-5 (Diagnostic Manual of Mental Disorders). We will explain what each one consists of, and we will also mention what are the disorders proposed by the ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases).

Learning Disorders: What are they?

Learning disorders involve performance in academic areas significantly below expectations (usually about two standard deviations from other students). This low performance interferes with student learning.

The prevalence of learning disorders ranges between 2 and 8%. In addition, 40% of students with learning difficulties end up dropping out of their studies, which is an alarming figure.

Thus, very frequently this type of disorder is related to a school failure, although the relationship is neither direct nor bidirectional. They are more frequent disorders lately, because the beginning of teaching is earlier.

DSM-IV-TR and DSM-5 Classification

In the DSM-IV-TR (2002) (Diagnostic Manual of Mental Disorders), learning disorders were classified as:

• Reading disorder
• Stone disorder
• Written expression disorder
• Unspecified learning disorder

With the arrival of the latest edition of the Diagnostic Manual, DSM-5 (2013), an important change comes in relation to this type of disorder. The previous categories are deleted and a single one appears, called “Specific learning disorder”, which collects the previous cases in a single category.

Having made this previous clarification, we are going to explain what each of these DSM-IV-TR disorders consists of, which, remember, now all of them would be called “Specific Learning Disorder”.

1. Reading disorder

The reading disorder is the classic dyslexia. It accounts for 80% of all learning disorders diagnoses. In addition, it affects up to 5% of school children. What does it consist of?

Basically in a decrease in reading performance; that is, the student's performance is up to two standard deviations below the expected performance for the child's age, IQ, and schooling. This is evidenced through standardized learning tests, administered individually.

A) Yes, the consequences of a reading disorder interfere with the student's academic performance or activities of daily living. On the other hand, in the event that there is a prior sensory deficit in the student, the difficulties that appear would exceed the usual ones for him.

It is recommended not to make the diagnosis of reading disorder before the age of 7 years.

2. Written expression disorder

The second of the learning disorders is the written expression disorder, which we also find in the DSM-IV-TR and in the DSM-5 as “Specific learning disorder”.

In this case, the student shows writing skills lower than expected for her age, IQ and schooling (also two standard deviations below). As with all learning disorders, there is also interference in daily life or in the academic performance, and in case of sensory deficit the difficulties exceed those that it could justify.

Usually a student with a written expression disorder also has difficulties organizing written material, as well as grammar, punctuation and paragraph organization errors.

specs

Mention that in the ICD (International Classification of Diseases) this specific category does not exist. On the other hand, if there is only an alteration in the writing (calligraphy), this diagnosis is not made, but rather "Developmental Coordination Disorder" (in DSM) or "Motor Skills Disorder" (in CIE).

3. Stone disorder

The calculation disorder is the classic acalcúlia, which leads to difficulties in performing mathematical operations. Thus, the student's ability to calculate is below normal, reducing their performance and / or interfering in their daily life. According to the ICD-10, in order to carry out this diagnosis, the ability to read and write must be normal.

What is most affected, logically, are mathematical skills (for example, counting, seriation, doing the multiplication tables ...). However, a person with a calculation disorder also shows impairment in visuo-perceptual and visuospatial skills, as well as in skills in relation to mathematical terms. These can affect:

• Linguistic area: understanding of mathematical terms / operators.
• Perceptual area: mathematical / arithmetic symbol recognition / reading / grouping of objects, etc.
• Attentional area: for example when doing “carried” subtractions.

Specific learning disorder (DSM-5)

The specific learning disorder of the DSM-5, which groups the previous ones with this name, implies certain difficulties in learning and in the use of academic skills.

These difficulties last 6 months or more, and include at least one of the following symptoms (although they may be more), depending on the type of learning disorder (dyslexia, acalculia, etc.).

1. Reading

The reading is altered, and results in a slow, inaccurate reading or with an inadequate intonation.

2. Understanding

Difficulties appear in understanding what is read. However, decoding (reading-pronunciation) may be adequate.

3. Orthography

The spelling is altered; the student can add, omit or substitute different letters, both vowels and consonants.

4. Written expression

In the written expression there are grammatical errors, in the punctuation or in the organization of paragraphs.

5. Calculation

Difficulties may also appear in mastering number sense, numerical data, or the calculation itself.

6. Mathematical reasoning

Difficulties appear in mathematical reasoning, which is more abstract, that is, in solving mathematical problems.

Specific learning disorder considerations

As we can see, the specific learning disorder proposed by DSM-5 includes the learning disorders of DSM-IV-TR, and We can make one diagnosis or another depending on whether the alterations occur in one of the previous fields or in another.

The specific learning disorder of the DSM-5 also includes cases where the student has difficulties in spelling (which were not in the DSM-IV), difficulties in writing (which were in DSM-IV) and / or difficulties in calculation (DSM-5 introduces difficulties in problems mathematicians.

However, outside the specific learning disorder are handwriting problems, which are not diagnosed as such.

Learning Disorders in ICD

We have seen learning disorders in DSM. In the ICD, but, which is the Spanish version, these are classified as "Specific developmental disorders of school learning", and include the following specific categories:

• Specific reading disorder
• Specific spelling disorder
• Specific stone disorder
• Mixed developmental disorder of school learning
• Other developmental disorders of school learning
• Unspecified school learning developmental disorder

As we can see, they are disorders very similar to the learning disorders proposed by the latest versions of the DSM, and some more are included.

Bibliographic references:

• American Psychiatric Association (APA). (2002). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV-TR. Barcelona: Masson.

• American Psychiatric Association -APA- (2014). DSM-5. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Madrid: Panamericana.

• WHO (2000). ICD-10. International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Edition. Madrid. Pan American.

• Ramos, F., Manga, D., González H. and Pérez, M. Learning disorders In Belloch, A., Sandín, B. and Ramos, F. (2008): Manual of psychopathology. Revised Edition. Volume II. McGraw-Hill. Madrid.