Learning Disabilities

A variety of characteristics, primarily negative in nature, have been associated with learning disabilities. A review of the empirical research which has compared learning disabled children with the academically successful finds little data to support these notions. Behaviors which discriminate groups do not appear to include simple perception and discrimination, hyperactivity, nor neurological deficits, and there is some question about the intelligence level of sampled children. Behaviors which do discriminate groups include ability to pay attention, difficulty with complex tasks, and tasks which make heavy demands on language skills and information organization. It is hoped that professionals in this field will not become frozen in inappropriate stereotypes regarding learning disabled children, but will be sensitive to and supportive of research efforts on their behalf.