Learning disorders are believed to occur because of an abnormality in the nervous system, either in the structure of the brain or in the functioning of brain chemicals. The difference in the nervous system causes the child with a learning disorder to receive, process, or communicate information in a different way. Ten to 30 percent of children have learning disorders. Mathematics disorder is estimated to affect 1 percent of school-aged children. Reading disorders are more common in children of parents who experienced a learning disorder.
Boys are more likely to be diagnosed with a reading disorder than girls.
Genetic predisposition, problems during pregnancy, birth, or early infancy, as well as other general medical conditions may be associated with the cause of learning disorders. The following are the most common symptoms of learning disorders. However, each child may experience symptoms differently. Children with a reading disorder read slow and have difficulty understanding what they read. They may have difficulty with word recognition and confuse words that look similar.