Dyslexia and Learning Disabilities: Their Relationship

Lang learning & general learning disabilities are two separate phenomena, although they may both occur within the same individual. The evolutionary development & status of human learning are examined. Infant linguistic growth is accompanied by a parallel development in various noverbal aspects of life. The older child learns to behave & communicate in relation to others; his language is a communication code. Literacy is a learned behavior, &, although much simpler in essence than the spoken code, presents many problems. Ideographic & alphabetic writing systems are examined & compared. Literacy is considered one of the latest & least finished developments in man. Dyslexia problems must first be isolated from other problems, eg, environmental depravity &/or physical limitations. Dyslexia is divided into those cases resulting from developmental differences & those children who possess normal cognitive & spoken language abilities but cannot cope with the written code. Due to the diversity of reading problems proper assistance must: (1) provide the individual with the best opportunity for general & specific learning, (2) teach the language as it is to the child as he is, & (3) keep in mind specific educational needs along with developing the "total" person. 8 Figures. A. Sbragia