The most common learning disorders may manifest as difficulties with reading, written expression or calculation. They may also appear in the form of associated behavioural problems or present alongside ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder).

LEARNING DISORDERS WITH READING DIFFICULTIES OR DYSLEXIA

Dyslexia affects our ability to recognise or decode words. For a child with dyslexia, reading is not automatic; it is done slowly with effort and errors. In dyslexia, reading errors often refer to stopping reading letters or syllables, adding others, substituting others, changing words or making rotations in letters with symmetrical shapes such as b, p, d, q. Reading comprehension is also affected in cases of dyslexia, since attention focuses on the decoding process.

LEARNING DISORDERS WITH MATHEMATICAL DIFFICULTIES OR DYSCALCULIA

Dyscalculia presents difficulties that may include different mathematical skills such as numerical processing and calculation, visual, spatial and mathematical reasoning skills. Children and young people with dyscalculia show difficulties in assimilating and remembering mathematical language, numerical and arithmetic data, as well as creating problem-solving strategies.

LEARNING DISORDERS WITH DIFFICULTIES IN WRITTEN EXPRESSION OR DYSGRAPHIA

In cases of dysgraphia, writing skills are affected and spelling difficulties and problems in written expression appear. The mechanisms of text planning are affected, so children and young people with difficulties in writing or dysgraphia generate a disorganised text without cohesion and coherence, and easily lose the thread of the text. The texts they produce are short and poorly organised both in terms of sentences and paragraphs, grammatical and syntactic errors appear, and punctuation is not used effectively. It is common for children who have trouble reading to also have problems with writing.