The Encyclopedia of Learning Disabilities (Facts on File Library of Health and Living) - Hardcover

Carol Ann Turkington; Joseph R. Harris

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0816040753 ISBN 13: 9780816040759

Publisher: Checkmark Books, 2002

Synopsis

Book by Turkington, Carol, Harris, Joseph R., Ph.D.

About this title

Reviews

Dr. Sam Kirk coined the term learning disabilities in 1963. One in five children in the U.S. struggles with a learning disability, defined by law as "a severe discrepancy between potential and achievement." This book does a nice job of pulling together the terms and concepts related to a growing area of concern for parents and educators--what is a learning disability and what is not?

More than 600 alphabetically arranged entries cover conditions, means of identification, treatments, legal issues, and individuals who have made a contribution to research in the field. Examples include Acalculia (also known as anarithmia), the inability to do simple mathematics; Angelman syndrome, a childhood disorder characterized by hyperactivity; Cylert (pemoline), a drug sometimes used to treat ADHD (attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder); and Zone of proximal development (ZPD), the gap between the level of a student's independent function and how he or she may perform learning tasks with help. Entries are complete and informative, and the language is easy to understand. Appendixes include a list of national organizations that deal with various learning disorders along with descriptions, contact information, and Web sites; sources of government information and assistance; assistive technology resources; hot lines; commercial technology resources; bulletin boards and discussion groups; and books of interest to people with learning disabilities. There are also a short glossary of terms and an up-to-date bibliography.

Overall, coverage is excellent, and there seems to be little else available that is as current, complete, and easy to use. Recommended for public and academic libraries. RBB
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Edition details

• Publisher: Checkmark Books
• Publication date: 2002
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0816040753
• ISBN 13: 9780816040759
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 304