Some of the common learning disabilities (LD) in adulthood include:
- Dyslexia
- ADHD
- Dyscalculia
- Dysgraphia
- Processing deficits
All of these LD can affect home and work life. It is important to seek treatment from a psychiatrist and psychologist who is familiar with learning problems. He or she can pinpoint the disability, then teach the individual coping mechanisms.
Depending on one’s disability, the focus of treatment may be on how to better structure his or her life by using lists, reminders, and daily planning. Medications can also be used to help a person better handle their anxiety.
People growing up with a LD often feel a sense of shame. For some, it is a great relief to receive the diagnosis while for others the label only serves to further stigmatize them. For many adults, especially older adults, an accurate diagnosis was unavailable.
LDs are caused by neurological impairments, not character flaws. It is now known that LD continues throughout the individual's lifespan and may even intensify in adulthood as tasks and environmental demands change.
Dyslexia is a type of LD. It is a specific language-based disorder affecting a person’s ability to read, write, and verbally express themselves. Some people with LD have isolated difficulties in reading, writing, or mathematics. However, most people with LD have more than one area of difficulty. The same disabilities that interfere with reading, writing, and arithmetic will also interfere with sports and other activities, family life, and getting along with friends.
