Chapter 4

Question 1

Learning Disabilities

Answer 1

The disability category that is characterized by students not achieving commensurate with their ability levels.

Question 2

Causes of Learning Disabilities

Answer 2

Genetic and hereditary influences (e.g., chromosomal abnormalities, structural brain differences)

Causes occurring before birth (e.g., injuries to embryo or fetus caused by mother’s use of alcohol, cigarettes, drugs)

Causes occurring during birth process (e.g., anoxia, prolonged labour, injury from forceps)

Causes occurring after birth (e.g., high fever, encephalitis, head trauma)

Question 3

Characteristics of students with LDs may include

Answer 3

Academic Difficulties
-Seem to have strengths similar to peers in several areas, but learning in other areas unexpectedly slower (e.g., reading, spelling, writing, mathematics)

Language Difficulties

• May demonstrate oral expression (speaking) and/or listening comprehension difficulties
• May affect one or more areas of language (phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, pragmatics)

Social-Emotional Problems
-E.g., greater risk of depression, more negative self-perceptions

• Attention Difficulties and Hyperactivity
• Attention is critical skill in learning; difficulties can impact on all aspects of success in schools

-Memory Difficulties
E.g., difficulty in repeating information read or heard, or taking recent information and organizing it for storage

-Cognition Difficulties

Question 4

Common Curriculum Models

Answer 4

• Developmental Model
• Cognitive Model
• Behavioral Model

Question 5

Developmental Model

Answer 5

Stresses provision of an enriched environment

E.g., stimulating development through field trips, creative opportunities

Question 6

Cognitive Model

Answer 6

Primary focus on stimulating child’s cognitive or thinking abilities
E.g., activities designed to improve language and memory

Question 7

Behavioral Model

Answer 7

Concepts learned by direct instruction and the theory of reinforcement
E.g., direct instruction provided to accomplish goals and progress charted

Question 8

Children with LDs may have academic and language deficits in any or all of the following areas

Answer 8

Basic reading skills  
Reading comprehension
Math calculation 
Math reasoning
Written expression
Oral expression
Listening

Question 9

Self-monitoring

Answer 9

A cognitive strategy where students keep track of and record information about their own behaviours

Question 10

Self-regulation

Answer 10

The ability to appropriately adapt one’s behaviour to the environment or situation

Question 11

Cognitive problems include

Answer 11

Cognitive problems include deficits in attention, perception, motor abilities, problem solving, and metacognition