Understanding Learning Disabilities : The Sourcebook for Causes, Disorders, and Treatments

One in seven adults and one in five children suffers from learning disabilities, which affect their capacity to interpret what they see and hear or to link information from different parts of the brain. More than 120,000 new cases are diagnosed each year, and many thousands more go undiagnosed. Learning disabilities can be separated into three categories: developmental speech and language disorders; academic skills disorders; and others, including certain co-ordination disorders and learning handicaps. Each one presents its own set of challenges and specific issues. "Living with Learning Disabilities" is specially styled to offer broad, comprehensive, up-to-date information on the topic. It focuses on the terminology of the field and presents key topics in a chapter-by-chapter format. An extensive section of A-Z entries follows, covering psychological and medical terms, pharmacology, therapies, types of learning disabilities, their causes, their effects, and their treatments. Several appendices include vital information on organizations operating in the field and list further resources that assist those with learning difficulties, family and friends of those with learning disabilities, teachers, counsellors and others.