Learning disabilities (LD) is a diagnosis that makes a student eligible for Special education and Related Services. A learning disability exists when a multi-disciplinary evaluation indicates that a student has a 1.5 to 2.0 standard deviation- or a significant discrepancy – between their intellectual capacity and their actual academic achievement in the areas of math, reading, or written language.

   Learning styles have been talked about for decades but were narrowly focused on learning through the visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and tactile domains or modalities. This approach to thinking about learning styles is called the VAKT method. More recently evidence for expanding this classification system has become viable and the newest research indicates there are seven learning styles. These include: linguistic, logical, spatial, musical, bodily, interpersonal, and intrapersonal. A brief description of each of these follows.

1. A child whose preferred learning is linguistic is fond of and motivated by reading, writing and telling stories. The linguistically motivated child naturally memorize facts about places, people, dates, and things and can retell, almost word for words what has been said to them.

2. A child who has a logical learning style preference tends to be extremely adept at mathematics and is turned on by solving problems and is even more turned on if these problems are related to math. In a way, their style of thinking is reminiscent of the television Star Trek character – Mr. Spock - because they use infallible logic and learn in a logical focused manner. They are insatiable learners and want information on anything and everything. They will almost wear out their welcome by asking too many questions. As a young child they more than likely loved playing with building blocks, leggos, and pattern puzzles.

3. Children who are visualizers appear to be lost in a daydream when not watching television or movies. They seem to need to avoid getting stuck in reality if at all possible. Their preferred toys as a youngster were educational computer games, kid’s television and movies, putting puzzles together that tell a story, looking at books that tell a story, and creative art activities.

4. A child with a musical learning style is one that was rocking to lullabies as an infant and keeping time to music when still in a baby swing. She learned to hum tunes early and want music on to fill the space. A child who learns best through music notices small details and differences in pitches and rhythms that most of us don’t pick up on. They can hold a tune and are quite talented at taking an abstract thought and making it concrete. They learn best when they can feel a rhythm and put music and a melody to facts.

5. A child whose preferred learning style is bodily, learns best when on the move. This child has to walk around constantly and touch anything in his sight. They are excellent at using body language to let there needs be known. When given a choice they would prefer to play sports or work on a project rather than sit and read. They must be active to learn

6. The child whose preferred learning style is interpersonal is widely recognized as the social butterfly. They quickly feel comfortable in most social situations and have many friends and make excellent leaders. They are known for their patience, understanding and empathy and are usually selected by playmates to be their friend. They are natural mediators and become known as the peacemaker.

7. A child whose preferred learning style is intrapersonal is strong willed and happiest working alone. This child pursues their own interests and has a good understanding of themself. They want to be independent, original, and they stand out in a crowd without effort. They are sometimes called the strong, silent type.

   Now that a foundation has been laid for understanding learning disabilities and the different types of learning styles, can you see how important it is to not only assess a student learning strengths and weaknesses but to also assess their preferred learning style(s)? can you also see how developing strategies that focus on their preferred way of learning will increase the potential that they will learn?

   If an intervention strategy is devised to accommodate a preferred style of learning, the student will have an optimum opportunity to learn, to learn in a manner that makes them happy and begin to learn how to adjust their own learning to fit their particular style preference.

	Nonverbal Learning Disability
	Dyslexia
	Dyscalculia
	Signs and Symptoms of Learning Disability