Running head: LEARNING DISABILITIES Learning Disabilities Kehar Johal University of Phoenix EDD: C571 Bruce Barnes Learning Disabilities Even though most researchers agree about the characteristics of learning disabilities, there is a disagreement about what should or should not be included in the definition of learning disabilities. While there is some agreement about these general topics, there is continued disagreement in the field about diagnostic criteria, assessment practices, treatment procedures, and educational policies for learning disabilities. A number of influences have contributed to these disagreements, which in turn, have made it difficult to build a generalized body of scientific and clinical knowledge about learning disabilities. Furthermore, this has hindered our ability to establish reliable and valid diagnostic criteria. While some progress has been made during the past decade in establishing more precise definitions and a theoretically based classification system for a LD, it is useful to understand these historical influences because of their continuing impact on diagnostic and treatment practices for children with learning disabilities.
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English: The McPherson Centre A Former hospital no...
English: Entrance to Stepping Stones Caring for pe...The first part of this essay will address the definitional issues, which have molded the field of learning disabilities into its present form, and how to resolve these issues so we can meet the social and educational needs of individuals who display characteristics of learning disabilities. Because LD is often misinterpreted to be synonymous with reading disability or dyslexia, most of the available information concerning learning disabilities relates to reading disabilities, and the majority of the children with LD have their main deficits in reading (Torgenson, 1991). Therefore, the second part of this essay will address the relationship between students? lack of metacognitive skills and reading problems. Also, in order to better understand the difficulties faced by students and teachers in the field of LD, reading disability was chosen for it is one of the more...