Two excellent websites that give valuable information on learning disabilities are the Learning Disabilities Association of Canada http://www.ldac-taac.ca/ and the Learning Disabilities Association of Ontario http://www.ldao.on.ca.

Common Learning Disabilities

The three most common learning disabilities are:

• visual processing deficits
• auditory processing deficits
• organizational processing deficits

The following describes each of these learning disabilities and specific areas of difficulty.

Visual Processing Deficits

The National Center for Learning Disabilities identifies a visual processing deficit as a hindered ability to make sense of information taken in through the eyes. This is different from problems involving sight or sharpness of vision. Difficulties with visual processing affect how visual information is interpreted or processed by the brain.

Individuals with visual processing deficits have difficulty following text when reading. Sometimes words or letters appear to be moving on the page and tracking information is a challenge.

There are some common areas of difficulty for individuals with visual processing problems:

• Spatial relations:

  This refers to the ability to accurately perceive objects in space and objects in relation to other objects. Reading and math both rely on symbols. In order to be successful in these areas, learners need to be able to see symbols (letters or numbers) both as separate units and in relation to others.

• Visual discrimination:

  This refers to the ability to differentiate objects based on individual characteristics. This is again critical for success in reading and math.