Definition of learning difficulties

While I was musing over what to blog, I thought that perhaps I should find out how learning difficulties should be defined. This would also create the framework to what I would like to find out more about. And so I googled it. It's the fastest way isn't it? :) I like Wikipedia's definition about learning difficulties, although they termed it as a learning disability. Here's what's written on wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Learning_disability)

Learning disability (sometimes called a learning disorder or learning difficulty), is a classification including several disorders in which a person has difficulty learning in a typical manner, usually caused by an unknown factor or factors. The unknown factor is the disorder that affects the brain's ability to receive and process information. This disorder can make it problematic for a person to learn as quickly or in the same way as someone who isn't affected by a learning disability. Learning disability is not indicative of intelligence level. Rather, people with a learning disability have trouble performing specific types of skills or completing tasks if left to figure things out by themselves or if taught in conventional ways.

A learning disability cannot be cured or fixed. With the right support and intervention, however, people with learning disabilities can succeed in school and go on to be successful later in life.

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Note how it is a difficulty that affects the brain's ability to receive and process information. So it's not about how the child is not able to learn because the child does not want to learn, is too lazy to learn, does not ask, does not speak up etc etc. It is neurological in basis. And I like how they say that it is not indicative of intelligence level. Children with learning difficulties are not stupid, they just need to learn in a different way. Learning difficulties, unlike the common flu, cannot be cured, but they can be helped with the correct strategies. This is something I firmly belive in. And I think all educators need to know this.