FAQ and Statistics

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS & STATISTICS

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Common Characteristics of Learning Disabilities?

Learning disabilities can affect the way in which a person takes in, remembers, understands, and expresses information. People with learning disabilities are intelligent and have abilities to learn despite their difficulties in processing information. Living with a learning disability can have an ongoing impact on friendships, school, work, self-esteem and daily life. People with learning disabilities can succeed when they develop solid coping skills and strategies.

Teacher and Student

What is Dyslexia?

People with dyslexia have difficulties with different forms of written language. There are several different types of dyslexia. Depending on the type of dyslexia reading, spelling, and writing can be very difficult. Some people with dyslexia reverse numbers and letters. However, research has shown that most dyslexics have problems with the sounds in words. Dyslexia is the most common type of learning disability.

What is Nonverbal Learning Disabilities (NLD)?

People with NLD often have excellent verbal skills, but have difficulty with certain visual-spatial and complex nonverbal tasks. For example, they may have problems with mathematics, problem solving in new situations and social perception. Nonverbal learning disabilities have been increasingly recognized in the last few years. For more information about NLD please go to NLD On-Line’s website.

My child has a learning disability and ADHD, is this common?

Learning disabilities are very common among people with ADHD. "Each is a distinctive neurologically based disorder. Each is recognized and diagnosed differently, and each is treated in a different way. The treatment for ADHD will not correct LD. The treatment for LD will not help ADHD. About 30% to 40% of people with LD will also have ADHD, so if one disorder is found it is important to look for the other." (Source: LDAC – An Overview of ADHD)

Will my child grow out of his / her learning disability or ADHD?

Learning Disabilities are lifelong conditions that affect many aspects of one’s life. However, people with learning disabilities can be successful if they are taught skills and strategies and receive accommodations in home, school, community and workplace settings. On the other hand, it is possible to out grow ADHD as an individual gets older. "ADHD can carry on into adulthood. Up to 67% of people who had ADHD as a child may continue to have symptoms of ADHD as an adult." (Source: LDAC – An Overview of ADHD)

Mother and Daughter

Is ADHD considered a learning disability?

LDAO’s definition of learning disabilities considers ADHD to be a learning disability. LDAO’s definition of learning disabilities was developed by a working group of professionals. It has been adopted by the Ontario Ministry of Education and is used extensively throughout Ontario. There has been a lot of debate on this topic and some experts believe that learning disabilities and ADHD are completely disabilities.

What are Accommodations?

Accommodations are the support or help that others give the learning disabled individual. Accommodations can also be something that others allow you to do. For example, a teacher or employer may give you extra time to learn a new skill or information, or he or she may allow you to use equipment or devices such as tape recorders, calculators or computers.

What are Coping Strategies?

Coping strategies are ways that the learning disabled individual help him or herself to deal with making his or her learning disability easier to handle. After a while, these strategies will become automatic for the individual. Usually, other people do not need to be involved or relied upon to use coping strategies. An example of a coping strategy is to carry a small notepad so you can jot down important information that you need to remember, make lists of things you need to do, underlining key words in instructions.

Except where noted, the above information has been printed with permission from Job Fit – Book 1 by the Learning Disabilities Association of Ontario; Toronto, Ontario, Canada (416) 929-4311; Fax (416) 929-3905.

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Learning Disabilities & ADHD Statistics

The Learning Disabilities Association of Canada (LDAC) Releases Groundbreaking 3-Year $302,000 Study on Learning Disabilities. Click here for more information.

	It is generally accepted that learning disabilities affect 10% of the population. This makes learning disabilities the signal largest disabled population. Learning Disabilities are neurological processing disorders that affect all aspects an individual’s life. An individual with learning disabilities has average or above average intelligence. As learning disabilities are often genetic, families may be affected negatively by learning disabilities. Adults who have not received appropriate and timely support and training typically hold a job for 3 months. Therefore, many families affected by learning disabilities are financially disadvantaged. Many are in receipt of Ontario Disability Support Program-Income Maintenance, Ontario Works and/or the National Child Benefit.
The South West Region Children’s Mental Health Study indicates that children with severe learning disabilities, ADHD and accompanying emotional problems are one of the groups not currently receiving adequate service. Almost 50% of adolescent suicides had been previously diagnosed as learning disabilities. The single most commonly sited factor for this desperate act is low-self esteem arising from school failure. Decreasing the development of behavioral and emotional problems related to untreated learning disabilities is essential for promoting successful productive adults with learning disabilities. Research indicates that 62% of high school graduates with learning disabilities are unemployed one year after graduation and that 35% of students with learning disabilities drop out of school (twice the rate of their non-disabled peers). More than one third of the functionally illiterate population copes with learning disability. Adolescents in grades 8 to 10 are less likely to aspire to high-prestige occupations and are more likely to be inconsistent or indecisive about future occupational alternatives than their non-disabled peers. Providing the appropriate support and accommodation for individuals with learning disabilities increases confidence, independence and opportunity to become a productive member of the community.
75% of young offenders and 75% of adult inmates have experienced learning problems. It is common for the young offender to have had prior special education, but no current school placement at the time of arrest. According to a study done by the World Federation for Mental Health on ADHD in Canada, the average length of time from when a parent first visited a health professional to talk about their child’s behaviour, to diagnosis by a specialist, was 1.6 years. 45% of parents felt the diagnosis process took too long. According to a study done by the World Federation for Mental Health on ADHD in Canada, found that 86% of parents are concerned that ADHD will threaten their child’s academic success.
According to a study done by the World Federation for Mental Health on ADHD in Canada, 53% of parents state that their child has been excluded from social activities because of his or her behaviour. Once in treatment, 62% of parents find that treatment helps their child interact socially.

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Our aim is to keep the community informed about services and facilities that are available to people with learning disabilities. LDAWE does not endorse or recommend any of the facilities listed or any of the methods, programs, products or treatments offered by such facilities. We urge consumers to review carefully any programs and services listed in order to select those, which will most appropriately meet the identified needs of the person with learning disabilities.

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