Search

There are two LD definitions, learning disabilities and learning disorders. We used "learning disabilities" as the educational and legal concepts. The government has conducted a survey on the number of children with LD, ADHD and high functioning autism in Japanese public schools. It was reported 4.5% (LD), 2.5% (ADHD), 0.8% (HFA), 6.3% (total) in 2003. The results of this survey had the big wave on Japanese special education. In 2006, the resource room for LD was started all over the country. The most important thing is that children with LD suffer from not only learning problems but also secondary psychological problems. If children cannot learn the way we teach them, then we must teach them the way they learn.

The medical staff can serve learning disabled (LD) children by ruling out progressive and regressive diseases, and by treating concurrent disorders, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHD). Teachers and even some medical members in Japan have confused ADHD with LD. Although looking similar, these two disorders are completely different. We should further clarify the brain dysfunction in LD children, thereby contributing to remedial education.