Research abstract

What Are Differences Between the Various Challenges to Learning?

Does your child struggle with a learning disorder...or a learning difference. Read this article to find out the difference and what you can do to help!

Laura Lurns Last updated October 23, 2019 · 1 min read

Does your child who is struggling academically have a learning disability? Perhaps it’s a learning disorder. It might even be a learning difference. Different terms mean different things to different people. A doctor may treat your child’s struggles as a disorder, a therapist would call it a disability and perhaps others, in an attempt to normalize the struggles and avoid a stigma see it as a difference. Regardless of the differences amongst these terms, the importance is that your child is receiving help and making progress.

Key takeaways

The term learning disabilities is used mostly to describe what someone has in terms to what services they will be provided.
Learning disorders are normally used as a medical term for the type of condition you have.
The author sees the term "Learning Differences" as a judgemental term. It points out that if someone has a Disability or Disorder than they are labeled "Different".

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A screener is a starting point, not a diagnosis. If your child might need formal accommodations (an IEP or 504 plan), or you suspect a vision, hearing or medical cause, pursue a professional evaluation too. That is the only route to those supports.

Laura Lurns · Learning Success expert Writes about the learning brain for parents who want plain answers. Every article is grounded in current neuroscience and classroom practice.

Key takeaways

Is your child struggling in school?

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