Program & Services

Learning Disabilities

What are learning disabilities?

Learning disabilities affect the way people use spoken or written words. People may have trouble doing math, trouble with movements and/or trouble with direct attention. While very young children can have a learning disability, it is usually not seen until the child is school age.

Is there any treatment?

Yes, special teaching is the most common treatment. Trained teachers use a test to look at the child's strengths. They will teach learning skills by building on the child's current skills. The child's strengths are used while fixing the problem. Speech and language therapists may also help. Some medications may help the child learn. Medication can also help the child's attention and concentration. Psychological therapies may also be used.

What is the prognosis?

Learning disabilities can last a lifetime. Some may have overlapping learning problems. Other people may have one learning problem that does not bother them their whole life.

What research is being done?

Research is being done by:

• The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
• National Institutes of Health
• National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
• National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
• National Institute of Mental Health

Research is helping to find ways to diagnose learning disabilities. It also helps with the treatment and help people understand the disability.

Organizations

CHADD - Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
8181 Professional Place, Ste. 150
Landover, MD 20785
www.chadd.org
Tel: (301) 306-7070 or (800) 233-4050
Fax: (301) 306-7090

International Dyslexia Association
8600 LaSalle Road
Chester Building, Ste. 382
Baltimore, MD 21286-2044
info@interdys.org
www.interdys.org
Tel: (410) 296-0232 or (800) ABC-D123
Fax: 410-321-5069

Learning Disabilities Association of America
4156 Library Road, Ste. 1
Pittsburgh, PA 15234-1349
info@ldaamerica.org
www.ldaamerica.org
Tel: (412) 341-1515 or (412) 341-8077
Fax: (412) 344-0224

National Center for Learning Disabilities
381 Park Avenue South, Ste. 1401
New York, NY 10016
www.ld.org
Tel: (212) 545-7510 or (888) 575-7373
Fax: (212) 545-9665

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
31 Center Drive, Rm. 2A32 MSC 2425
Bethesda, MD 20892-2425
www.nichd.nih.gov
Tel: (301) 496-5133
Fax: (301) 496-7101

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
6001 Executive Blvd. Rm. 8184, MSC 9663
Bethesda, MD 20892-9663
nimhinfo@nih.gov
www.nimh.nih.gov
Tel: (301) 443-4513 or (301) 443-8431 or TTY (866) 615-NIMH
Fax: (301) 443-4279