Types of Learning Disabilities
You educate one or more adult education classes. You have prepared a program of instruction carefully and know your subject matter well. You have taken into account individual differences in learning styles, and for time available to students in addition to class. 
Some students though still don’t “get it,” no matter how much extra explanation or practice you provide. At a result you and the student are getting frustrated.
What is a major difference?
All people have a variety of strengths and weaknesses in our learning styles, but for some people the “differences” are true roadblocks. Personal learning style differences are difficult for the busy instructor to address.
Thus, about ten percent of a student population has identifiable learning disabilities that are significant enough to get in the way of academic learning. Motivated but frustrated student, who has tried all the typical methods and still can’t remember enough to pass the test or to apply in a project, may have the deeper problem.
The good is that this student, as an adult, has confronted the problem before, will appreciate your interest in helping to overcome the problem, and can work with you to figure out what works and what doesn’t.
Which of my Students Might Need Extra Help?
Instructors often meet two general types of instructional problems. The first one concern the methods and materials – the structure, ease of use, too much or not enough explanation, not enough practice with difficult concepts, expecting too much prior knowledge, and so on. Many instructors endeavor to improve their methods and materials, and each presentation of the course is more effective than the previous one.
Conversely, a few students bump into problems with methods and materials that work well for most others. The instructor’s need is to first understand what’s not working in that student’s learning process, and then to find ways for that student to achieve the objectives by overcoming the problem or compensating for it.
What are Typical Types of Learning Disabilities?
The advantage of teaching adults is that students are more likely to talk about their learning patterns, identify problems, and work with the instructor to resolve those problems. An adult student may need extra help or alternative materials if she or he reaches a point of frustration; a roadblock with the standard methods and materials. Some separate types of problems include:
1. Visual Signs
• a short attention span when reading
• headaches
• comprehension problems, or
• more than usual distractibility.
Possible Causes
• visual acuity (corrected by glasses?) or
• difficulty processing what is seen, or specifically decoding words from the page.
| 
