Learning Disorders Health Article

Prognosis

The high school dropout rate for children with learning disabilities is almost 40%. Children with learning disabilities that go undiagnosed or are improperly treated may never achieve functional literacy. They often develop serious behavior problems as a result of their frustration with school. The key to helping these students reach their fullest potential is early detection and the implementation of an appropriate individualized education plan. The prognosis is good for a large percentage of children with reading disorders that are identified and treated early. Learning disorders continue into adulthood, but with proper educational and vocational training, an individual can complete college and pursue a challenging career.

BOOKS

American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 4th ed. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press, Inc., 1994.

Church, Robin P., M. E. B. Lewis, and Mark L. Batshaw. "Learning Disabilities." In Children with Disabilities. 4th ed. Ed. Mark L. Batshaw. Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes, 1997.

Hallowell, Edward. When You Worry About the Child You Love. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1996.

Osman, Betty B. Learning Disabilities and ADHD: A Family Guide to Living and Learning Together. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1997.

PERIODICALS

Baringa, Marcia. "Learning Defect Identified in Brain." Science 273 (Aug. 1996): 867-868.

Stage, Frances K., and Nancy V. Milne. "Invisible Scholars: Students With Learning Disabilities." Journal of Higher Education 67 (July/Aug. 1996): 426-45.

ORGANIZATIONS

National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD). 381 Park Avenue South, Suite 1401, New York, NY 10016. (410) 296-0232. <http://www.ncld.org>.

Learning Disabilities Association of America. 4156 Library Road, Pittsburg, PA 15234. (412) 341-1515. <http://www.ldanatl.org>.

The National Adult Literacy and Learning Disabilities Center (National ALLD Center). 1875 Connecticut Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20009-1202. (800) 953-2553. <http://www.nifl.gov/nalldtop.htm>.

OTHER

LD Online Page. <http://www.ldonline.org>.

Paula Anne Ford-Martin

KEY TERMS

IQ—Intelligence quotient; a measure of intellectual functioning determined by performance on standardized intelligence tests.

Phonics—A system to teach reading by teaching the speech sounds associated with single letters, letter combinations, and syllables.