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TSR Wiki > University > A list of common disabilities and disorders
I've compiled a brief outline of some common learning difficulties and disorders. This is for people who know they are struggling, but aren't sure what their problem might be, or for people who are interested in finding out more about what these disorders entail.
When reading these lists please remember that they're only a brief summary and that each condition is far more complex. People with a condition don't necessarily display all of the symptoms described, and a person's symptoms may overlap with more than one condition.
If you have any suggestions to make, I intend to update and improve it. It is a work in progress.
ADD/ADHD
ADD/ADHD (Attention Deficit Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder) are developmental disorders with the following effects:
- Delayed development in quite a few areas
- Difficulty concentrating
- Forgetfulness
- Difficulty completing tasks
- Difficulty following instructions
- Missing details and being disorganised
- Talking excessively
- Hyperactivity
- Often interrupting/struggling to wait for turn before acting.
Asperger Syndrome
A pervasive developmental disorder on the Autistic Spectrum
Asperger's Syndrome can affect people in the following ways:
- A narrow interest or obsession with a particular subject or interest
- Repetitive behaviours or rituals
- Unusual language or speech ( for instance using more outdated 'proper' English..etc)
- Very logical or technical thinking
- Socially and emotionally inappropriate behaviour and interpersonal interaction
- Problems with non-verbal communication (eg facial expressions and body language)
- Sometimes clumsy/uncoordinated
- A tendency to think very literally, and interpret things literally (problems understanding subtlety)
- Can be very pedantic
- Can experience sensory overload (Sensory Integration Dysfunction)
Dyscalculia
Dyscalculia is a Learning Disability described as:
“An inability to conceptualize numbers as abstract concepts of comparative quantities.."
People with Dyscalculia experience the following:
- Confuse maths symbols like + or –
- Can’t tell which of two numbers are larger
- May use fingers to count
- Struggle with things like reading clocks or counting change
- Struggle with budgeting or estimating costs
- Experience difficulties with timetables or mental arithmetic
- Experience difficulties with judging time
- Have problems discerning left from right
- Poor sense of direction, and difficulty with mental navigation
- Experience difficulties measuring distance
- Experience difficulties grasping mathematical concepts, formulae, etc
- Experience difficulties keeping score during games (especially games with more flexible rules for scoring)
- Have a phobia of Maths
- Experience difficulties with activities requiring sequential processing.
Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a learning disability
People with Dyslexia may experience any of these symptoms:
- Problems with reading, spelling and writing (these would be severely below average)
- May learn better through hands on demonstration and visuals
- Struggle concentrating
- May feel stupid or have a low self esteem
- Same intelligence range as that of those without dyslexia
- May struggle with left and right, or determining before or after
- Might have or have had difficulty speaking properly due to a struggle to learn and hear words properly. So..may battle with things like understanding directions, finding words to express themselves..etc
- Poor, slow handwriting
- May have poor coordination and clumsiness
Dyspraxia
People with Dyspraxia experience the following difficulties:
- Clumsiness, poor balance and difficulty picking up and holding things.
- Difficulty telling left from right, and problems with spatial awareness (judging distances/positioning...etc)
- Sensory Integration Dysfunction (being overly or underly sensitive to stimuli from one or more of the five senses) which may trigger panic attacks.
- Difficulty sleeping due to inability to ‘shut brain down’.
- Distractability and daydreaming
- Short term memory difficulties
- Tiredness (due to the extra difficulty of performing normal tasks)
- Often frustration and low self-esteem
High Functioning Autism
People with HFA are autistic, but have a normal or above average IQ.
HFA may affect people in the following ways:
- Battle to predict reaction of society to their behaviour
- Can be overly trusting or alternatively paranoid towards strangers
- Experience sensory integration dysfunction (overly or underly sensitive to stimuli from senses)
- Can be very detached/distant
- May struggle to retain eye contact
- Overly serious, no capacity for ‘small talk’
- Clumsiness and coordination problems
- Can be empathetic but have difficulty communicating or expressing emotion
- Are capable of being intensely focused
Also See
This guide was originally put together by Craghyrax on TSR Forums.
