Learning Disability (LD) is a general term that describes specific kinds of learning problems.  A learning disability can cause a person to have trouble learning certain skills.  Reading, writing, listening, speaking, reasoning and doing math are most often the skills that are affected by a learning disability.  It is believed that learning disabilities are caused by differences in how a person’s brain processes information.  A learning disability is not reflective of a person’s intelligence.  In fact, people with learning disabilities usually have average or above average intelligence.  Children with learning disabilities are also not “dumb” or “lazy”.  Research studies on the brain show more activity while processing information for people with learning disabilities than in people who learn typically.  This means that children with learning disabilities need to put forth more mental energy to acquire certain skills than do most learners.