1. Learning Disabilities Larry Burd, Ph.D CETP 1300 S Columbia Rd Grand Forks, ND 58202 701-780-2477

2. Many of the slides in this presentation are from the work of Pelli et al Nature (423) 752-756; 2003 or Wilson et al Nature (423) 696-697; 2003.

3. Learning Disabilities Etiology

4. Often genes “+” disorder

5. Environmental Factors Tobacco Alcohol Head Injury Other

6. Genetic Factors Males predominate Familial

7. Developmental Course

8. Learning Disability High Low Birth 49-101318 Severity & Prevalence %8642%8642 15 – 20% per year 5 – 8% per year

9. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder High Low Birth 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 Severity & Prevalence % 12 10 8 6 4 2 12% per year Hyperactivity Attention Disability 5 17

10. Syndromal Manifestations

11. Memory Short Term Anxiety Distraction

12. Cognition Prone to repeat errors Errors often change Main idea/big picture difficulty

13. Attention Short term memory Distractible Impulsive

14. Social Skills Impulsive Self concept Assertiveness Avoidance Anger – difficulty with criticism Clarification

15. Impairment - Work READING Slow Mistakes Often passage length dependent

16. Impairment - Work WRITING Slow Errors Poor Legibility Applications Reports Memos Orders

17. Directions Short term memory impairments Attention Difficulty with clarification Organization

18. Psychological Cognition Stress Avoidance Temper Impulsive

19. Math Difficult reading problems Anxiety Oral Calculation Multiple steps Tool use Can’t do “seems about right” check

20. Common Error Patterns 4 5 8 3 + 2+ 6- 3- 5 6 11 11 8

21. Impairment – Training/College READING Slow Comprehension defects Vocabulary limitations Limited experience Figure notations – complex and dense Directing – dense, readability very high, in high distraction position

22. Impairment – Training/College WRITING Slow Vocabulary limitation Spelling Punctuation Organization Experience Handwriting – poor readability Note taking

23. Math Reading is very difficult ( + x ) Multiple steps Poor tool use Self confidence Anxiety Written Oral

24. Assessment Etiology Course Familial Course

25. Assessment IQ Reading rate Standard scores Comprehension

26. Written Language Spelling Standard score Can person read what they have written

27. Other – Comorbid Conditions ADHD Anxiety Depression

28. Plan Start for success Over-serve – then decrease services Think junior or two-year college for moderate impairment Limit course load in college

29. Strategies – Tools Calculator Read problem Word processing Spell checker (right-click) Notes Photocopies Instructor Outlines Note taker

30. Strategies - Organization Folder for each subject Where are the classes Library – contact person Schedule Support Service Course load – start slow