Learning Strategies for Learning Disabilities

Learning disabilities are very common these days, and they affect almost one out of every five people worldwide. According to research, more than 7.3 million students in the United States use special education services, and 33% of them have learning disabilities. Learning disabilities do not indicate that a person cannot be successful or is less intelligent; many experts, successful artists, and leading entrepreneurs have learning disabilities, and yet they use their unique thinking styles as strengths.

Despite the huge number of students who live with these challenges, there aren’t enough resources to help challenged learners. Studies indicate that more than one-third of students who have learning disabilities drop out of high school, compared to just 12% overall. However, students do much better and learn better when they receive strategies that address their learning disabilities. Strong and early intervention can completely change a student’s educational experience in schools.

What are learning disabilities?

Learning disabilities are brain conditions that affect how people receive and process information. They don’t reflect how intelligent a person is or the effort they put in; they just happen because our brains function differently. In the United States public school system, around 7.3 million students who have disabilities use special education services, and most of these students have learning disabilities.
The main types of learning disabilities are Dyslexia (reading difficulties), ADHD (attention challenges), dyscalculia (math problems), autism spectrum disorder, anxiety disorders, written expression disorder, and language processing disorders. Each of these conditions requires specific learning strategies for learning disabilities to help students succeed.

These conditions are neurological, which means they’re caused by differences in brain structure and function. Students who have learning disabilities usually have normal or increased intelligence, but they struggle with activities such as reading, writing, math or keeping their attention. Online tutoring platforms like Lrnkey offer structured, one-on-one sessions that work perfectly for students with different learning disabilities. The focused attention from a dedicated tutor, combined with interactive technology, helps maintain engagement and provides immediate feedback.

Learning strategies for ADHD

There are 6.1 million children in the United States diagnosed with ADHD, making it one of the most common learning challenges. Here are some easy learning strategies for students with ADHD:

1.  Managing attention and focus

• Break tasks into small chunks: Split up big projects into several smaller tasks that have their own due dates. This makes sure everything gets done in time and keeps anxiety low. It feels great for students to check off each task as they go along. Reminders and alerts can be sent automatically by using digital tools. This helps the brain stay focused, and prevent learners from feeling overwhelmed.
• Use timers to create clear start and stop points: Visual timers help students see how much time remains and stay on track.
• Create visual schedules: Use visuals and graphics to show what comes next so students can prepare mentally for transitions.
• Remove distractions from the workspace: Get rid of anything that could distract students in their study space. Put in headphones that block sound to minimize outside noises. Move students out of places with lots of people and near windows if feasible.
• Position students away from high-traffic areas - Reduce visual and auditory distractions by choosing quiet locations.
• Provide immediate feedback - ADHD students need to know right away if they’re on the right track, so giving immediate feedback will help them improve. Checking off completed tasks provides dopamine rewards that ADHD brains crave.

2.  Organization and planning tools

• Use daily planners with visual elements: Individuals with ADHD have a hard time with planning and organizing. Planners that have graphics and visuals show students what they need to do and when. Use different colors for each subject or type of activity you have.
• Break large projects into smaller steps: Split large work into smaller steps and make sure each step gets its own deadline to prevent last-minute rushing.
• Create individual deadlines for project parts: Giving ADHD students deadlines prevents overwhelming feelings and builds momentum in students when they complete a project.
• Use different colors for different subjects: Visual organization systems work better than text-only methods.
• Prepare materials the night before: Teach your students to arrange their materials the night before. Keep backpacks, shoes and important things close to the entrance their own area. This prevents waking up stressed or missing any homework.
• Set up digital reminders and alerts: Technology can provide the external structure that ADHD brains need.
• Use apps for task management: Digital tools can send notifications and keep track of multiple responsibilities. 
• If you are planning for your child, insert their ADHD morning routine into a task management app and set reminders to ensure nothing gets skipped.

3.  Movement and energy management

• Incorporate 5-minute movement breaks every 20-30 minutes: Sometimes, ADHD students need to get up and move to focus on what they are learning. Pause work every 20-30 minutes for a brief movement break that takes 5 minutes. You can increase your attention by doing jumping jacks, stretching or taking a walk.
• Use simple exercises like jumping jacks or stretching: Physical exercise before difficult tasks improves focus and reduces hyperactivity. These learning strategies for ADHD work because they match how the ADHD brain functions best.
• Provide fidget tools: Fidget tools like stress balls, fidget cubes, or textured objects can help students focus without disrupting others. Standing desks or exercise balls allow for movement while working. Some students concentrate better when they can rock, bounce, or move slightly.
• Schedule physical exercise before difficult tasks: Even 10 minutes of moderate exercise improves focus for up to 2 hours.

Learning strategies for dyslexia

Dyslexia affects about 20% of the population and makes reading, writing, and spelling challenging. The dyslexic brains process language differently, often excelling in areas like creativity, problem-solving, and big-picture thinking. These learning strategies for dyslexia use multisensory approaches that work with how dyslexic brains learn best:

1.  Reading skill development

• Use phonics-based reading programs: Systematic instruction in letter-sound relationships builds decoding skills step by step.
• Multisensory approaches: The most effective learning strategies for dyslexia use multisensory approaches that usually combine different senses, including sight, sound, and touch at the same time. The best programs focus on teaching letters by showing the relationship between them and their sounds.
• The Orton-Gillingham method: When it comes to teaching people with dyslexia, Orton-Gillingham is commonly considered the gold standard program. Students are taught how to read in a balanced, sequential manner. Students focus on one concept at a time before going on to the next one. This ensures all the learners understand the concepts well.
• Learn thoroughly: Learn one concept thoroughly before moving on, this prevents gaps in understanding and builds confidence
• Use audiobooks and text-to-speech software: Audiobooks and text-to-speech software give dyslexic students an advantage in learning. The speed at which they read does not prevent them from getting meaningful information like the rest of the class. Some students fall in love with literature when they switch from reading the material by themselves to hearing it in class.
• Provide books in multiple formats: Provide print, digital, and audio versions of books to give students options for different situations.
• Use reading apps designed for dyslexia: Technology can provide specialized fonts, colors, and reading support. Reading apps that are designed especially for dyslexia can make a difference.
• Allow extra time for reading tasks - Dyslexic readers need more time to process text accurately, so give them more time.

2.  Writing and spelling support

• Break problems into smaller steps: It is often just as hard for dyslexics to write as it is to read. Breaking each syllable in a word into smaller bits helps with spelling, so tell students to clap along or tap their fingers to the rhythm.
• Use word prediction software: Some software programs can help recommend words to students as they type, helping them avoid troubles with misspellings. Students with the help of this software can reduce spelling errors in their work and boost their confidence.
• Separate thinking from writing mechanics: Focus on ideas first, then organization, then spelling and grammar.
• Allow typing instead of handwriting: Many dyslexic students find typing easier than forming letters by hand.
• Use spell-check and grammar tools: Technology catches errors that students might miss.
• Practice one writing skill at a time: Don’t try to fix everything at once. Focus on specific improvements and fix one problem at a time.

3.  Building reading confidence

• Start with books slightly below their current level: First, give students books that are a bit easier than what they normally would read. Confidence gained from success pushes a person to keep working. Reading together with a more confident reader can give learners guidance and show them how to read effortlessly.
• Practice partner reading: Pair them with a reading partner. Reading with a stronger reader provides support and models fluent reading.
• Celebrate improvements: Celebrate their reading progress, not just the final outcomes. Track words read per minute, books completed, or new vocabulary learned. Seeing progress written on a graph allows students and parents to notice and encourages them.
• Read the same book multiple times: People get better at reading when they have repeated exposure to familiar texts. These exercises make it easier for them to recognize words. These methods of learning for dyslexia help people improve little by little.
• Use drawings and diagrams: Graphic organizers help plan writing before starting. Simple templates for different types of writing (stories, reports, persuasive essays) provide structure. Students can focus on ideas first, then organization, then mechanics in separate steps.
• Choose books about student interests: Passion for the topic can overcome reading difficulties, so try choosing books that are closely related to their passions.
• Read aloud to students regularly: This builds their vocabulary and shows them that reading is enjoyable.
• Connect reading to real-world activities: Show them how reading skills apply to hobbies, sports, or future goals.

Learning strategies for dyscalculia

Dyscalculia affects approximately 3% to 7% of students and makes working with numbers hard and unfamiliar. For students affected by dyscalculia, it is hard to learn about numbers, keep factual math information in mind, and spot patterns that are easy for others to spot. Here are some strategies that aim to make it easier for learners to understand math that is usually hard to visualize:

1.  Number sense and basic math

• Use visual math tools and hands-on manipulatives: Manipulatives and tools on the computer turn difficult concepts into something easy to visualize. Physically show numbers and various operations by using blocks, beans, or any other toy you have.
• Start with number lines for visualization: Number lines help students visualize relationships between numbers. Start with small ranges (1-10) and gradually expand. Students can physically move along the floor number lines for kinesthetic learning.
• Begin with small ranges (1-10) and expand gradually: Build solid foundations before adding complexity.
• Connect math to real-world situations: Try to relate math to real-life events. Activities such as cooking, shopping, and playing sports involve math easily. Ordering pizza online is often the best way to support students’ understanding of math.
• Use floor number lines for kinesthetic learning: Students can walk and jump on large number lines for body-based learning.
• Practice with math games and puzzles: Fun and gaming activities reduce math anxiety and build positive associations.
• Show multiple ways to represent the same number: Use dots, tally marks, pictures, and numerals for the same quantity.
• Focus on understanding before memorization: Ensure students grasp concepts before expecting automatic recall.
• Use estimation activities - Help students develop number sense through "about how many" practice.

2.  Memory aids for math facts

• Set math facts to music and rhythm: It is difficult for students with dyscalculia to stick to the method of cramming information. Choose music and rhythm like math fact songs to help you memorize your multiplication table. Set the facts to songs you know and make rap songs using number facts.
• Create visual patterns for multiplication: You can also use shapes as an example, for example, organize dots to teach multiplication and display arrays for various concepts. There are students who can recall visual graphics more easily than symbols with numbers.
• Try skip counting with movement: Count by 2s, 5s, or 10s while clapping, jumping, or stepping.
• Allow calculator use for complex calculations: After the student understands the basics, let them use a calculator for difficult calculations. Mathematical thinking is the goal, not how quickly someone can do computations. They can concentrate on solving problems after the basics are clear.
• Practice a few facts at a time: Master small sets of problems before adding new ones to prevent students with dyscalculia from getting overwhelmed.
• Use fact family relationships: Show how addition and subtraction or multiplication and division connect using friends and family in place of numbers.

3.  Problem-solving strategies

• Teach multiple ways to solve problems: Teach multiple ways to solve the same problem. Some students understand better with drawings, others with step-by-step written procedures. Having options reduces frustration and builds flexibility.
• Use drawings and diagrams: Visual representations make word problems clearer and easier to understand
• Break problems into smaller steps: Big problems become manageable when you divide them into parts.
• Use "think aloud" methods: Use the "think aloud" method where teachers or tutors verbalize their thinking process. Students hear how to approach problems systematically. Online tutoring through platforms like Lrnkey provides this kind of explicit instruction in a supportive environment.
• Check work using different methods: If you add to get an answer, subtract to check it. If you multiply, divide to verify. This builds number sense and catches errors. These learning strategies for dyscalculia emphasize understanding over speed.
• Practice with real-world problem scenarios: You can practice using relatable and relevant scenarios like money problems, time calculations, and measurement tasks.

Learning strategies for autism

Students with autism have unique strengths like attention to detail, pattern recognition, and deep focus on interests. However, they may struggle with social communication, sensory processing, and changes in routine. These learning strategies for autism create supportive environments that reduce anxiety and build on individual strengths while addressing specific challenges:

1.  Creating structured learning environments

• Use predictable daily routines and schedules: Having set routines and obvious expectations helps students with autism succeed. An activity schedule marks each activity using either pictures or its name. A notice and bright warning signs should be given before any unexpected changes are made.
• Provide visual schedules with pictures or words: Use visuals and graphics to show the day’s activities in order, so students can prepare mentally.
• Create clear, specific rules and expectations: Clear, specific instructions work better than general directions. Instead of "clean up," say "put the markers in the red bin and the paper in the blue basket." This reduces confusion and increases independence.
• Use social stories for new situations: Social stories show how individuals should act in certain social experiences. Through these stories, students can pick up on the rules of society that people usually understand inherently. They matter a lot when students are taking part in group activities, eating lunch together, or on field trips.

2. Social and communication skills

• Teach conversation skills with explicit instruction: Many students with autism want to interact with others, but lack the skills. Teach conversation skills explicitly with scripts and practice. Role-playing common social situations builds confidence.
• Use visual cues like emotion cards: Visual cues like emotion cards help students recognize feelings in themselves and others. Social skills groups provide safe practice opportunities with peers who have similar challenges.
• Provide social skills groups: Online tutoring can include social skills instruction alongside academics. Lrnkey tutors trained in autism support can work on both educational goals and social communication in a comfortable, one-on-one setting.
• Teach personal space and body language - Explicitly explain unwritten social rules that others learn naturally.

3. Sensory considerations

• Identify individual sensory triggers: Sensory processing differences affect learning significantly. Some students need sensory breaks in quiet spaces with dim lighting. Others need movement or fidget tools to regulate their nervous system.
• Provide noise-cancelling headphones: Noise-cancelling headphones reduce overwhelming auditory input. Weighted lap pads provide calming pressure. Flexible seating options like therapy balls or standing desks accommodate different sensory needs.
• Create sensory profiles: Create sensory profiles for each student, identifying their triggers and helpful strategies. This information helps all adults supporting the student provide consistent, appropriate accommodations. These learning strategies for autism recognize that sensory needs directly impact learning ability.
• Create sensory break spaces: Create quiet areas with dim lighting for students who become overstimulated.

Learning strategies for anxiety

Anxiety affects 25-30% of students with learning disabilities, creating a challenging cycle where learning difficulties increase worry, and worry makes learning harder. These learning strategies for anxiety focus on building confidence, teaching coping skills, and creating supportive environments where students feel safe to learn and make mistakes:

1.  Reducing academic stress

Break large assignments into smaller pieces: Academic stress makes learning harder and can create a negative cycle of worry and poor performance. Breaking large assignments into smaller, manageable pieces reduces overwhelming feelings.

Teach specific relaxation techniques: Teach specific relaxation techniques like deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, or mindfulness exercises. Practice these when students are calm so they can use them during stressful moments.

Create "safe spaces" for breaks: Create "safe spaces" where students can take breaks when anxiety becomes overwhelming. This might be a counsellor’s office, library corner, or designated classroom area. Having an escape plan reduces anxiety about being trapped in stressful situations.

2.  Building confidence and coping skills

• Teach positive self-talk strategies: Positive self-talk replaces negative thoughts that fuel anxiety. Teach students to recognize worried thoughts and replace them with realistic, helpful ones. "I can’t do this" becomes "This is hard, but I can try my best."
• Use gradual exposure to anxiety-provoking tasks: Gradual exposure to anxiety-provoking situations builds confidence over time. Start with less threatening versions of the task and slowly increase difficulty. Success at each level builds self-efficacy.
• Celebrate effort and progress, not just outcomes: Celebrate effort and progress, not just final outcomes. This helps students see value in trying, even when results aren’t perfect. Growth mindset thinking reduces perfectionism, which often drives anxiety.
• Teach problem-solving skills: Students feel more capable when they have strategies for handling difficulties.

3.  Test-taking and performance support

• Practice tests in low-pressure settings: Test anxiety is common among students with learning disabilities. Practice tests in low-pressure settings help students become familiar with the format and timing. This reduces surprises on test day.
• Teach specific test-taking strategies: Teach specific test-taking strategies like reading all directions first, starting with easier questions, and using elimination methods for multiple choice. These learning strategies for anxiety focus on building both skills and confidence.
• Provide extended time accommodations: Extended time accommodations reduce time pressure, which increases anxiety. Alternative assessment methods like oral tests, portfolios, or projects may better show student knowledge.
• Create comfortable testing environments: Create quiet spaces, preferred seating, or small group settings where students feel comfortable.

Learning strategies for written expression disorder

Written expression disorder affects students who struggle to put their thoughts into written form, despite having good ideas and verbal communication skills. These students may have trouble with handwriting, spelling, grammar, organizing ideas, or the physical act of writing itself.  These learning strategies for written expression disorder separate the thinking process from the mechanical aspects of writing, allowing students to express their knowledge and creativity effectively:

1.  Pre-writing and planning

• Use graphic organizers for different writing types: Students with written expression disorder have ideas but struggle to organize and express them on paper. Graphic organizers provide a visual structure for different types of writing. Story maps work for narratives, while web diagrams help with descriptive writing.
• Try mind mapping for idea generation: Brainstorming techniques like mind mapping or listing help generate ideas without worrying about organization initially. Separate the creative process from the organizing process to reduce cognitive load.
• Talk through ideas before writing - Getting students to say their thoughts out loud can help them organize their ideas before they write them down.
• Start with simple outlines: Outlining before writing provides a roadmap. Start with simple outlines using just a few main points. As students improve, they add more detail and complexity gradually.

2.  Writing process support

• Try speech-to-text software: Speech-to-text software allows students to speak their ideas instead of writing them. This removes the physical act of writing from the thinking process. Students can edit and refine after getting ideas down.
• Provide sentence starters and transition phrases: Sentence starters and templates provide structure for struggling writers. "The main reason is..." or "In conclusion..." give students language patterns to build on. This scaffolding gradually fades as skills improve.
• Allow typing instead of handwriting: Many students find typing easier than forming letters by hand.
• Try peer editing partnerships and give feedback: Peer editing and feedback help students see their writing from a reader’s perspective. Partner with stronger writers who can model good writing while providing supportive feedback.

3.  Improving writing mechanics

• Use grammar and spell-check tools: Grammar and spell-check tools catch many errors automatically. Teach students to use these tools effectively rather than relying on them completely. They still need to understand basic writing rules.
• Focus on one type of error at a time: Don’t try to fix everything at once, work with students on capitalization this week, and punctuation next week.
• Break editing into separate steps: Break editing into separate steps, focusing on one element at a time - first content and organization, then sentence structure, and finally spelling and punctuation. This prevents students from getting overwhelmed and improves thoroughness.
• Use visual writing guides: Visual writing guides or checklists remind students what to check in their writing. These external supports eventually become internalized habits. Online tutoring platforms like Lrnkey provide intensive writing support with immediate feedback and guidance.
• Allow extra time for revision: Students with writing difficulties need more time to polish their work.

Learning strategies for language processing disorder

Language processing disorders make it hard for students to communicate using spoken language. Such problems mean that it is difficult to follow talks, understand what others tell us, or present ideas to others. These learning strategies offer many options to gather information and give them more time to understand what is being said:

1.  Improving listening comprehension

• Use visual aids alongside verbal instructions: Students with language processing disorders need extra time and support to understand spoken language. Visual aids like pictures, diagrams, or written keywords support verbal instructions.
• Repeat and rephrase important information: Repeat and rephrase important information using different words. This gives students multiple chances to understand and different ways to access the same information.
• Speak slowly and pause between ideas: Give students time to process each piece of information before adding more.
• Check for understanding with specific questions:  Check for understanding frequently with specific questions other than "Do you understand?" Students might think they understand when they don’t, or feel embarrassed to admit confusion.
• Position yourself where students can see your face: Facial expressions and lip reading provide additional clues to meaning.
• Reduce background noise when possible: Competing sounds make it harder for students to focus on important information
• Use gestures and body language: Physical movements help reinforce the meaning of spoken words.

2.  Vocabulary and language development

• Connect new words to students’ experiences: Link vocabulary to things they already know and understand from their daily lives.
• Use pictures and visual supports: Picture dictionaries and visual supports help students connect words to meanings. Digital tools can provide audio pronunciations and multiple examples of word use.
• Provide multiple examples of word use: Show them how the same word can be used in different sentences and situations.
• Practice new vocabulary in conversations: Practice everyday conversations explicitly. Many students with language disorders understand academic language better than social communication. Role-play common social interactions.
• Create word walls with pictures: Build vocabulary through context and visual supports rather than just definitions. Show pictures, act out words, or connect new vocabulary to students’ experiences.
• Use digital tools for pronunciation: Audio support helps students to hear words multiple times and learn correct pronunciation.
• Encourage students to ask about unfamiliar words: Create a safe environment where questions are welcomed and answered clearly.

3.  Following directions and instructions

• Give one direction at a time: Break detailed instructions into single tasks that can be done one at a time. Do not rush to the next step until the first one is done. It stops you from having too much information to deal with.
• Write down important directions: Provide written backup for verbal instructions when possible. Students can refer back to written directions when they forget or get confused.
• Demonstrate what you want students to do: Show examples alongside verbal explanations for better understanding
• Use consistent language and vocabulary: Stick to familiar words and phrases rather than changing terminology.
• Allow extra processing time: Give students a few extra seconds to understand before repeating or rephrasing.
• Teach self-advocacy phrases: Teach self-advocacy skills so students can ask for clarification appropriately. Practice phrases like "Could you repeat that?" or "I understand the first part, but not the second." These learning strategies for language processing disorder emphasize clear communication and multiple ways to access information.

Teaching students to understand their needs

Being able to advocate for yourself is key to your own success over the years. It is important for students to realize their learning styles and identify what helps them succeed in school. Because of this knowledge, they’ll know how to ask for the help they need in their lives.

Help students recognize how they can learn best. Is it easier for them to learn using what they see, do, or hear? Understanding their learning preferences allows them to fit their studies and arrangements to their needs.

Teach them to explain their learning requirements to other people. They ought to be able to describe the accommodations that are most helpful to them. They’ll need this skill more and more as they get ready to manage their own lives.

Online tutoring for learning disabilities

Online tutoring has brought an important change to the way students with learning disabilities are helped. Online learning platforms like Lrnkey offer disabilities tutors who have been taught methods shown to help people with learning challenges. One-on-one classes are designed to suit each student and their particular needs and rate of learning.

These platforms have educational technology that helps students who have learning disabilities. Multimedia resources, interactive whiteboards, and screen sharing engage multiple senses at the same time, so students are able to look at past sessions, review different kinds of materials, and learn from the comfort of their familiar environment. Online diverse education offers flexible scheduling, and allowing families to meet their needs and still get consistent guidance.

Family and home support strategies

Come up with homework activities that suit your family’s schedule and that your child can manage. There are students who do their best when they begin soon after school, and those who need to have a break first. Find what works for your loved one and keep using it.

Motivate your students to try their best, not just focus on achieving perfection. Striving for perfection is one of the ways students with learning disabilities can become discouraged, which can cause them to avoid their schoolwork and worry. Encourage them to aim for their best and learn from their mistakes.

Final thoughts

Learning disabilities present challenges, but they don’t limit potential. With the right learning strategies for learning disabilities, appropriate support systems, and strong self-advocacy skills, students can achieve their goals and lead successful, fulfilling lives.

The key is finding what works for each individual student. What helps with learning strategies for ADHD might be different from learning strategies for dyslexia or learning strategies for autism. The common thread is providing structured, supportive, and individualized instruction that builds on strengths while addressing challenges.

Remember that progress takes time and effort from everyone involved: students, families, teachers, and support professionals. Celebrate small victories along the way and maintain hope for the future. Every student deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential, and with proper support, they can.