Mental retardation vs. learning disabilit(ies)

[PrincessKLS]

Some people say there's no difference and really a learning disabled person is just a very mild form of mental retardation. I'm using the term, Mental Retardation since medically it's still used to describe someone with intellectual, social, and other impedements.

And also someone who may have multiple disabilities may be seen as retarded.

Others of course think there's a clear difference between being labeled learning disabled and mentally retarded. And in fact will seperate them completely and create their own categories within the disabilities. From slight/mild to severe.

Sometimes people can have "retarded deformities" and be rather competent and intelligent.

[Philosophia]

I really hate the word retarded. However, mental retardation is "a condition in which a person has an IQ that is below average and that affects an individual’s learning, behavior, and development. This condition is present from birth." (http://www.epilepsy.uhhs.com/glossary.htm). A learning disability is a disorder found in people of normal intelligence who have difficulties in learning specific skills (http://wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?o2=&o0=1&o7=&o5=&o1=1&o6=&o4=&o3=&s=learning+disability).

[Brónach Druid]

Some people say there's no difference and really a learning disabled person is just a very mild form of mental retardation. I'm using the term, Mental Retardation since medically it's still used to describe someone with intellectual, social, and other impedements.
And also someone who may have multiple disabilities may be seen as retarded..
Wow, I have never heard that, I have no idea who these people are but that is one of the most ridiculous things I have ever heard. I worked in the MR/DD field for years, and there is a huge difference between someone with a learning disability and someone who is MR.
Mental Retardation is a person with sub-average intellectual ability with an IQ of 70 or less. In addition, these individuals have significant deficits in abilities needed for independent daily function. People with learning disabilities are not Mentally Retarded nor are they "slow learners" most of these individuals have average or above-average intelligence.



Others of course think there's a clear difference between being labeled learning disabled and mentally retarded. And in fact will seperate them completely and create their own categories within the disabilities. From slight/mild to severe..

Thats because medically there are distinct differences and yes, MR is divided into four classifications. That is a fact not an opinion.


Sometimes people can have "retarded deformities" and be rather competent and intelligent.
I have no idea what you mean by "retarded deformities"

[Aveline]

Is there a question here? Or a point to be made? This seems like a random topic to post on.

[PrincessKLS]

Yes, I forgot to ask what is everyone's opinion?

I too hate the word retarded but I understand it in a medical sense. And those people were school boards and school psychologists that decided I was retarded of course it was later considered a Learning Disability. I don't test well so I'm sure they thought my IQ was below average.

I'm not sure what my IQ is officially but a few years ago I took a test online that said it was 108. Which is pretty much average but I'm not sure what average means. I've heard it was an IQ between 80-100 or an IQ 100-120 (and the average IQ is supposedly 100). There have been people who did find me intelligent in my life thankfully but I'm still scarred by early childhood events.

But anyway, I know an IQ of 70 or below is considered retarded but I heard that someone who has an IQ between 70-80 is considered borderline retarded.

And I don't know but I guess borderline retarded supposedly means in lamen's terms "severely learning disabled".

Oddly enough before I graduated high school I was considered to have a mild or slight LD (not moderate or severe).

[Tanya]

hi!

LD person here....

Philosophia and Bronach are right on the money.

I have a 130+ IQ.... which means I'm 2 standard devations above 'average' intellegence. I sit on a IQ test at the other end of the bell curve from folks who are MR. Never the less..

I seem to have a proccessing problem with vowels. I have to memorize the vowel and its placement for every word I spell correctly. Further I have a tendancy to reverse letters in a word, because it seems I read words as 'shapes' not as amalgams of unique letters.

There are pluses... I spell badly, but reading words as single unit, I read exceedingly quickly... and how I see a word has nothing to do with my ability to extract its intellectual content.

Its like saying an athlete who loses a hand in a freak meat grinder isn't athletic anymore.

I'm glad you ask the question. My father has the same problem I do, and all his childhood was considered to be stupid because his spelling was so poor.

[Artiste-LiLi]

Well, I have learning disabilities..but I am in no way "retarded" in the true classical sense of the definition. My IQ is 187....I don't know where that falls in the "IQ range" other than it is somewhere above "average".....I don't keep up with such things and I consider "IQ" scores/test to be less than accurate when measuring someone's true intelligence. I absolutely believe that "mental retardation" (gods I hate that terminology) and "learning disabled" are two VERY seperate and distinct things. Just because I transpose letters, numbers and words does not make me "retarded".

[Brónach Druid]

Yes, I forgot to ask what is everyone's opinion?

I too hate the word retarded but I understand it in a medical sense. And those people were school boards and school psychologists that decided I was retarded of course it was later considered a Learning Disability. I don't test well so I'm sure they thought my IQ was below average.

I'm not sure what my IQ is officially but a few years ago I took a test online that said it was 108. Which is pretty much average but I'm not sure what average means. I've heard it was an IQ between 80-100 or an IQ 100-120 (and the average IQ is supposedly 100). There have been people who did find me intelligent in my life thankfully but I'm still scarred by early childhood events.

But anyway, I know an IQ of 70 or below is considered retarded but I heard that someone who has an IQ between 70-80 is considered borderline retarded.

Borderline MR are people 71-75 by my agencies standards but some do consider up to 83. It is now labeled as adaptive and borderline intellectual functioning. You don't just determine Mental Retardation with an IQ test. It is done in at least a three step process, involving standardized intelligence tests as well as adaptive skills tests.
Also technically a school should not make this diagnosis, they can suggest that may be the problem but your parents should have taken you for further testing.



And I don't know but I guess borderline retarded supposedly means in lamen's terms "severely learning disabled".

I would have to say no......you really cannot put MR and learning disabilities in the same category. MR does not have anything to do with the way a person learns or retains information. Try to think of it this way...in MR an individuals learning abilities are generally impaired (and is not just related to learning).
Learning disabilities relate to specific deficits in ability.

[Thunder]

Well, I have learning disabilities..but I am in no way "retarded" in the true classical sense of the definition. My IQ is 187....I don't know where that falls in the "IQ range" other than it is somewhere above "average".....I don't keep up with such things and I consider "IQ" scores/test to be less than accurate when measuring someone's true intelligence. I absolutely believe that "mental retardation" (gods I hate that terminology) and "learning disabled" are two VERY seperate and distinct things. Just because I transpose letters, numbers and words does not make me "retarded".
I believe that puts you about 20 points above Albert Einstien....

[PrincessKLS]

Well I was born sick and I do have mild CP too so yes doctors did diagnose me with my neurological and physical disabilities, but I know school distrcts usually have special psychologists to diagnose learning disabilities and where to class the children.

I'm one of those people that was stuck in between ( I was too slow for mainstream classes, but too fast for special ed) so basically I was given a mixture of the two.

[PrincessKLS]

I believe that puts you about 20 points above Albert Einstien....


Yes, I've never heard of someone with such a high IQ that is like super genius.

My main learning problems are logic based (so I've been told) so hard sciences and math were difficult for me.

Even though humanities and language arts were my stronger points, in grade school I was usually put into special reading classes, since I was slow at it (at first).

[Tanya]

My father's a school psychologist. He's the person who tests kids for LD, MR and gifted programs... etc.

IQ test are less accurate the farther you get from the median, which is 100. Beyond 130 the margin of error is + or - 1 standard devation. To say "187" is meaningless and bespeaks a less than proffesional assessment.

[Artiste-LiLi]

I believe that puts you about 20 points above Albert Einstien....

No s&*t....I mean way!!!!!! Seriously? ROFL! I never knew Einstien's IQ score; I had to look it up after you said that (around 160 or so?). Oh, that's rich....me...20 pts. above Einstien....now THAT's a picture. Yeah...I don't think so....I'm smart..but I'm not THAT kind of smart....see post below the remaining quotes...............

Yes, I've never heard of someone with such a high IQ that is like super genius.


My father's a school psychologist. He's the person who tests kids for LD, MR and gifted programs... etc.

IQ test are less accurate the farther you get from the median, which is 100. Beyond 130 the margin of error is + or - 1 standard devation. To say "187" is meaningless and bespeaks a less than proffesional assessment.


Yeah, see.....that's my point.....I am intelligent, I KNOW I'm intelligent, in some things I am deemed "brilliant" (whatever that means) and MENSA has asked me to join many times; but I'm certainly no Albert Einstien. That's what I'm saying about the tests not being so accurate. Sure, I've got the piece of paper that says "187"...but to me, that's just "some number" and all that number means is one of three things...either it was an easy test that played to my strengths -OR- I had a really REALLY good day and tested extremely well -and/or- *somebody* didn't know/do their job well.

Tests I have taken on my own and test scores that I have from when I was in grade school, middle school and high school seem much more in line to me. (I have my test scores and reports from 6th grade through 12th grade and none of those are THAT high.) It was only on that one test that I scored so highly. My lowest was 135 in 6th grade (and I remember being embarrassed because I had done so "poorly" and "scored so low". ) and the highest was 187....all the others run between the two with the majority being right around 145 (+ or - a point or three) which I think is MUCH more accurate for me. (hmmmm.....since I scored 135 in 6th grade, and I made grades in the D, C, low B {low 70's to high 80's/low 90's ranges} on my report cards...could that be why I got all those "does not apply self" comments on my grade cards????? LOL....man I may be smart on paper but I sure am slow! :lol: I did GREAT "grade-wise" in college though)

Still, I don't think those numbers mean that much......I think how intelligent a person is depends upon so many factors. I've seen extremely intelligent people do very poorly on IQ tests simply because they do not test well. I believe that intelligence also has a whole lot to do with just plain old good common sense. I've seen geniuses that are complete idiots when it comes to common sense stuff...those are the ones I refer to as "book smart morons". They can't help it though...its just how their brains are wired. To me intelligenence isn't just about attaining and retaining information and then being able to parrot it back to someone...it is also about how you apply the information you have attained in a day to day life setting and having it "work for you" to make your life run smoothly and to allow you to function appropriately.

All of which has nothing much to do with the main topic at hand! LOL! (Blame it on the AADD)

[Infinite Grey]

No s&*t....I mean way!!!!!! Seriously? ROFL! I never knew Einstien's IQ score; I had to look it up after you said that (around 160 or so?). Oh, that's rich....me...20 pts. above Einstien....now THAT's a picture. Yeah...I don't think so....I'm smart..but I'm not THAT kind of smart....see post below the remaining quotes...............

Yeah, see.....that's my point.....I am intelligent, I KNOW I'm intelligent, in some things I am deemed "brilliant" (whatever that means) and MENSA has asked me to join many times; but I'm certainly no Albert Einstien. That's what I'm saying about the tests not being so accurate. Sure, I've got the piece of paper that says "187"...but to me, that's just "some number" and all that number means is one of three things...either it was an easy test that played to my strengths -OR- I had a really REALLY good day and tested extremely well -and/or- *somebody* didn't know/do their job well.

Tests I have taken on my own and test scores that I have from when I was in grade school, middle school and high school seem much more in line to me. (I have my test scores and reports from 6th grade through 12th grade and none of those are THAT high.) It was only on that one test that I scored so highly. My lowest was 135 in 6th grade (and I remember being embarrassed because I had done so "poorly" and "scored so low". ) and the highest was 187....all the others run between the two with the majority being right around 145 (+ or - a point or three) which I think is MUCH more accurate for me. (hmmmm.....since I scored 135 in 6th grade, and I made grades in the D, C, low B {low 70's to high 80's/low 90's ranges} on my report cards...could that be why I got all those "does not apply self" comments on my grade cards????? LOL....man I may be smart on paper but I sure am slow! :lol: I did GREAT "grade-wise" in college though)

Still, I don't think those numbers mean that much......I think how intelligent a person is depends upon so many factors. I've seen extremely intelligent people do very poorly on IQ tests simply because they do not test well. I believe that intelligence also has a whole lot to do with just plain old good common sense. I've seen geniuses that are complete idiots when it comes to common sense stuff...those are the ones I refer to as "book smart morons". They can't help it though...its just how their brains are wired. To me intelligenence isn't just about attaining and retaining information and then being able to parrot it back to someone...it is also about how you apply the information you have attained in a day to day life setting and having it "work for you" to make your life run smoothly and to allow you to function appropriately.

All of which has nothing much to do with the main topic at hand! LOL! (Blame it on the AADD)


It is possible that you have an IQ of 183, though that would classify you as "Profoundly Gifted"; that is of cause it was your "True IQ", which is the average of three tests taken within a short period of time. The tests have to be performed by a professional, online tests are not valid.

[Lunacie]

Some people are good at taking tests and may score higher on an IQ test than would be accurate. Some people are bad at taking tests and may score lower than would be accurate. Learning disibilities may certainly affect the results of an IQ test. I don't remember what my IQ score was when I was in school, probably much lower than I score with an online test, because I do better with online testing than I do with a "real testing situation".

Having a higher IQ doesn't necessarily mean you know a lot or have the ability to handle every situation. A lot of people with learning disabilities (especially ADD) have high IQs but have difficulty with some subjects that are harder or less interesting for them.

So no, in my opinion, Learning Disabilities are quite different from IQ scores that indicate Retardation and Genius.

[Artiste-LiLi]

It is possible that you have an IQ of 183, though that would classify you as "Profoundly Gifted"; that is of cause it was your "True IQ", which is the average of three tests taken within a short period of time. The tests have to be performed by a professional, online tests are not valid.

I've only taken a couple of online IQ tests and I just did them for fun to see what they would say...and I considered them "joke tests". The tests I've taken myself were books that you self administer and self score (don't give those much weight either). My most recent test was in 2002 and it was administered by a clinical psychologist.

[PrincessKLS]

Oh, so you can just go to a clinical psychologists for those?

[sarabethv]

Well, I have learning disabilities..but I am in no way "retarded" in the true classical sense of the definition. My IQ is 187".

You got me beat by a point: :lol:

I believe that puts you about 20 points above Albert Einstien....

Hey its just a number :)

No s&*t....I mean way!!!!!! Seriously? ROFL! I never knew Einstien's IQ score; I had to look it up after you said that (around 160 or so?). Oh, that's rich....me...20 pts. above Einstien....now THAT's a picture. Yeah...I don't think so....I'm smart..but I'm not THAT kind of smart....see post below the remaining quotes...............


Maybe not that kind of smart - you have your own brand of smart.


Some people are good at taking tests and may score higher on an IQ test than would be accurate. Some people are bad at taking tests and may score lower than would be accurate. Learning disibilities may certainly affect the results of an IQ test. I don't remember what my IQ score was when I was in school, probably much lower than I score with an online test, because I do better with online testing than I do with a "real testing situation".

Having a higher IQ doesn't necessarily mean you know a lot or have the ability to handle every situation. A lot of people with learning disabilities (especially ADD) have high IQs but have difficulty with some subjects that are harder or less interesting for them.

So no, in my opinion, Learning Disabilities are quite different from IQ scores that indicate Retardation and Genius.

I do kinda agree with you here. Some are good at tests and some bad. IQ tests are also very biased; however, it has been shown over time that there is some relevence between higher numbers and abilities. However, high scores do not guarantee success in the world. In fact, many times it is just the opposite.

I've only taken a couple of online IQ tests and I just did them for fun to see what they would say...and I considered them "joke tests". The tests I've taken myself were books that you self administer and self score (don't give those much weight either). My most recent test was in 2002 and it was administered by a clinical psychologist.

Yep, had mine done years ago by shrinks - wonder if you get smarter or dumber with age? (meaning ME)

P.S. Yes, clinical psychologists can do IQ testing, but they usually want to feel it is warranted.

[Artiste-LiLi]

Oh, so you can just go to a clinical psychologists for those?

Well, I don't know that you can "just go" and have the testing done.......I'm fairly certain there has to be some reason of need or question in order to get one done. Mine was done in conjunction with a "review process" I was going through at the time so I was sent to the clinical psychologist by someone.

You got me beat by a point: :lol:

:lol: I'm in good company then :smile:
As I said before, I only tested that high one time and I've given my thoughts as to why. I usually run somewhere between 145 and 150 (give or take a few points). Wonder what the average between them all would be..............lol...might be good for a giggle. I would love to be tested again at some point in the future (after I turn 50) to see how I do as I continue to age.

[quote=sarabethv;3439112]Hey its just a number :)

Absolutely.


Maybe not that kind of smart - you have your own brand of smart. .

So I've been told. And as Lunacie pointed out before...many with high IQ's do have learning disabilities and issues with ADD. Hit the nail on the head on that one for me. I am ADD (Was undiagnosed as a child..only diagnosed in adulthood.) and I do have learning disabilities (dyslexia being a big one for me). I'm smart; but some things are difficult for me.

<snipped>
Yep, had mine done years ago by shrinks - wonder if you get smarter or dumber with age? (meaning ME).

My scores have increased with age.

[Thunder]

Well, I don't know that you can "just go" and have the testing done.......I'm fairly certain there has to be some reason of need or question in order to get one done. Mine was done in conjunction with a "review process" I was going through at the time so I was sent to the clinical psychologist by someone.

[quote=sarabethv;3439112]You got me beat by a point: :lol:

:lol: I'm in good company then :smile:
As I said before, I only tested that high one time and I've given my thoughts as to why. I usually run somewhere between 145 and 150 (give or take a few points). Wonder what the average between them all would be..............lol...might be good for a giggle. I would love to be tested again at some point in the future (after I turn 50) to see how I do as I continue to age.



Absolutely.




So I've been told. And as Lunacie pointed out before...many with high IQ's do have learning disabilities and issues with ADD. Hit the nail on the head on that one for me. I am ADD (Was undiagnosed as a child..only diagnosed in adulthood.) and I do have learning disabilities (dyslexia being a big one for me). I'm smart; but some things are difficult for me.

<snipped>


My scores have increased with age.I am sure that as long as you are willing to pay the Fee, there need be no reason other than you want it done... it isn't surgery.

The phrase "Many" is misleading... context would be helpful. The overwhelming majority of Americans (and people in general) have probably never had their IQ tested other than casually.

Also:
Our IQ scores do tend to increase with age due to the fact that even those who "don't test well" tend to gain confidence with age.

Even though IQ tests aren't the kind of test that good test takers do well on (by design) there is a certain amount of "acquired knowledge" that affects one's score regardless of the design of the test.

Since there is a limited variety of IQ test designs the likelihood that a test subject will encounter a familiar question type or style increases with the number of test that he/she takes and the final IQ score is not merely a function of correct answers but of time required to complete (so familiarity would give advantage)

Just for giggles... read Psychologist Robert Sternberg's book "Why Smart People Can Be So Stupid"

[Lunacie]

Thunder - you missed a tag and this quote was ascribed to Sarabeth.



So I've been told. And as Lunacie pointed out before...many with high IQ's do have learning disabilities and issues with ADD. Hit the nail on the head on that one for me. I am ADD (Was undiagnosed as a child..only diagnosed in adulthood.) and I do have learning disabilities (dyslexia being a big one for me). I'm smart; but some things are difficult for me.



That's not actually what I said, although I do think we agree. I just wanted to clarify that many people with learning disabilities such as ADD have higher than Average IQs, but I haven't seen the stats to say that many people with High IQs also have learning disabilities.

[Thunder]

Thunder - you missed a tag and this quote was ascribed to Sarabeth.



That's not actually what I said, although I do think we agree. I just wanted to clarify that many people with learning disabilities such as ADD have higher than Average IQs, but I haven't seen the stats to say that many people with High IQs also have learning disabilities.I still don't like the "many" thing... what exactly does that mean?

I doubt that the percentage of ADD folks who are high IQ is any different than the percentage of the general population who are high IQ.

So what does Many mean?

As to the bolded portion... the way we define and diagnose LD these days I may be the only person left on earth who doesn't have one.

Also, referring back to Artiste-LiLi's post... Factino.. Dyslexia is uncommon in women and they suffer less from its effects.

[sarabethv]

Just for giggles... read Psychologist Robert Sternberg's book "Why Smart People Can Be So Stupid"

I'm sure I wouldn't be really surprised by the info. Some days I just sit back and think to myself; "How the **** could I have been THAT stupid." But I will look it up. :)

[Tanya]

I agree with Thunder dyslexia seems to be much more common and sever in men... I would imagine because female brains tend to be more wired for verbal skills... I would imagine this is also part of the reason more males seem to suffer from autism as well.

Certianly, while I have some troubles... my toubles were NOTHING compared to my father's condition... which makes him the only barely literate person I know with a master's degree.... hearing him read outloud is abosolute agony...any polysyllabic in the text he has to sound out.

A point to note.. dyslexia is NOT a disease or condition,... it is a description.... a symptom....

like a 'runy nose'

All it means is the person is having some kind of trouble with reading... for some unknown reason... its a blanket statement

I've never heard anything about more smart people bing LD... LD of course by definition MEANS that a person of normal intellegence or greater than normal has a significant lag in a certain skill... so... I guess if you cut 50% of the population out of the group because they are below average... then you setting yourself up for the statement . However, of people with average or above IQs I've not heard anything that would lead me to believe LD aren't evenlly distributed accross the group.

[PrincessKLS]

And one thing that bothers me is that despite all the education I've recieved and some employment, I still can't find work in my town but when I go for assistance they count my parent's income and won't help.

So why is it that a 24-year-old who is relatively capable has to be held back in such a way? Why do they just assume parents should take care of a disabled child, even if they are very, very mild?

[Lunacie]

I still don't like the "many" thing... what exactly does that mean?

I doubt that the percentage of ADD folks who are high IQ is any different than the percentage of the general population who are high IQ.

So what does Many mean?

Many is more than "few" and less than "most." I agree the percentages are probably pretty compatible between the neurologically challenged and the neurotypical, but I find people who think that having a LD means you're also dumb and have a lower IQ. Which is what PrincessKLS is seeing and why she started this thread (I think).


As to the bolded portion... the way we define and diagnose LD these days I may be the only person left on earth who doesn't have one.

Ah, a minority of one. :lol: Everyone has the symptoms of an LD at some point, due to stress or illness or whatever. It's generally not diagnosed as an LD unless it is persistent and lasts more than a few months and disrupts your life in some way.


Also, referring back to Artiste-LiLi's post... Factino.. Dyslexia is uncommon women and they suffer less from its effects.

I think I'd read that, but we sure seem to have several women on MW who are affected by Dyslexia. Could be we just have more women posting here than we have men. I don't have Dyslexia myself, I have Dyscalculia (trouble with numbers, getting them backwards). This was not diagnosed when I was in school, in fact I never heard the term until last year. I only knew that numbers and I don't get along well.

[Lunacie]

I agree with Thunder dyslexia seems to be much more common and sever in men... I would imagine because female brains tend to be more wired for verbal skills... I would imagine this is also part of the reason more males seem to suffer from autism as well.

.

Are women really wired to be more verbal than men? My ex could talk rings around me - I'm much more quiet. But I could certainly read, write, and spell better than he could.

I think we are just seeing the tip of the iceberg with girls vs boys being diagnosed with neurological disorders such as Autism Spectrum. Girls just "hide" it better, as they are more likely to try to please. ADHD in girls looks different than in boys much of the time, because girls tend to be less antsy and more daydreamy. When you stop looking at hyperactivity as the main indicator of ADHD and look at things like impulsivity and impatience there isn't always much difference via gender. My granddaughter and I are both terrible about not being able to wait for the other person to finish speaking before we begin - we're afraid we'll forget what we want to say. ;)

I saw something on an add discussion board about how that makes people with ADHD hate to talk on the telephone, without any visual clues it's nearly impossible to tell when it's your "turn" to speak, and it's gets very tiresome to keep saying, "Sorry, what did you say?"

[Solya]

Learning disabilities? How about being highly intelligent but yet having trouble with things like multiplying numbers? It is very common for people with high IQs to be unable to learn how to make things become an "automatic" action for them... so they, for instance, have to stop and think every time they ride a bike to remember just how the motion of cycling goes...

I see it every day in my line of work. Learning disabilities from these children often make people see them as less intelligent than they truly are, while it has just been proven scientifically that the brains of these kids are just wired differently from the "regular" folk and that this causes problems in some areas, and this makes many of these kids socially insecure. The most important lesson here is to not be too quick to judge anyone on the way they learn in comparison to their intelligence.

[Thunder]

A point to note.. dyslexia is NOT a disease or condition,... it is a description.... a symptom....

like a 'runy nose'

All it means is the person is having some kind of trouble with reading... for some unknown reason... its a blanket statement.
Actually, that is what a Learning Disability is. Dyslexia is indeed a very specific disorder. The portion of the brain that visually recognizes letters and the portion of the brain that translates that into a "mental sound" must be closely linked neurologically and, in most people, they are. In people with dyslexia there are significantly fewer neural connections between these centers in the brain. This has been proved through the use of fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging).

Are women really wired to be more verbal than men? My ex could talk rings around me - I'm much more quiet. But I could certainly read, write, and spell better than he could.

I think we are just seeing the tip of the iceberg with girls vs boys being diagnosed with neurological disorders such as Autism Spectrum. Girls just "hide" it better, as they are more likely to try to please. ADHD in girls looks different than in boys much of the time, because girls tend to be less antsy and more daydreamy. When you stop looking at hyperactivity as the main indicator of ADHD and look at things like impulsivity and impatience there isn't always much difference via gender. My granddaughter and I are both terrible about not being able to wait for the other person to finish speaking before we begin - we're afraid we'll forget what we want to say. ;)

I saw something on an add discussion board about how that makes people with ADHD hate to talk on the telephone, without any visual clues it's nearly impossible to tell when it's your "turn" to speak, and it's gets very tiresome to keep saying, "Sorry, what did you say?" The husband / wife team of psychologists who did the heavy lifting on this research also used fMRI to show that women have significantly more neural connections between the right and left hemispheres of the brain and that this is what allows them to compensate for dyslexia to a greater degree than men. For this same reason women also recover much faster and more completely than men do from strokes.

I will have to schlep around to find it but I wrote a paper on this when I was working on my Masters in Secondary Education. It really is fascinating stuff.

[Lunacie]

Actually, that is what a Learning Disability is. Dyslexia is indeed a very specific disorder. The portion of the brain that visually recognizes letters and the portion of the brain that translates that into a "mental sound" must be closely linked neurologically and, in most people, they are. In people with dyslexia there are significantly fewer neural connections between these centers in the brain. This has been proved through the use of fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging).

The husband / wife team of psychologists who did the heavy lifting on this research also used fMRI to show that women have significantly more neural connections between the right and left hemispheres of the brain and that this is what allows them to compensate for dyslexia to a greater degree than men. For this same reason women also recover much faster and more completely than men do from strokes.

I will have to schlep around to find it but I wrote a paper on this when I was working on my Masters in Secondary Education. It really is fascinating stuff.

So it may be that women have Dyslexia as often as men, but are better able to compensate? Perhaps a similar difference in brain wiring accounts for more boys than girls being diagnosed with ADHD and Autism... girls are also better able to compensate?

[Thunder]

So it may be that women have Dyslexia as often as men, but are better able to compensate? Perhaps a similar difference in brain wiring accounts for more boys than girls being diagnosed with ADHD and Autism... girls are also better able to compensate?Perhaps... they are better at a lot of things...

[sarabethv]

Perhaps... they are better at a lot of things...

and we are cute too :smileroll

[Meadhbh]

That is one of the most uninformed things I have ever heard. I mean no offense to any one with any form of retardation. But there is a big difference between a person who has a learning disabilty and some one who has even a mild form of say Down's Syndrom for example.

[PrincessKLS]

I agree with you but I know there's people who don't see the difference. And legally they are both considered disabled among other types of people.