Planning for Treatment of Learning Disabilities and Associated Primary Handicapping Conditions

Abstract

Chapter 8 included discussion of the diagnosis of learning disabilities, ADHD, and associated problems. It is important for the team, once it begins to develop therapeutic recommendations, to appreciate that some of these conditions are neurologically based. The primary handicapping conditions include (but are not limited to) learning disabilities, speech-language disabilities, gross and fine motor difficulties, and ADHD. Because of these primary neurological handicapping conditions, the child with learning disabilities (if provided with no special programming) falls progressively behind in achievement, and may develop a variety of secondary handicapping conditions, including behavioral and emotional problems. Treatment of learning disabilities is the subject of this chapter. Treatment of ADHD will be discussed in Chapter 10. Treatment of secondary handicapping conditions will be discussed in Chapter 11.