Causes of Illiteracy, Research Paper Example

As 42 million Americans are deemed as illiterate, and several underdeveloped countries have rates as such over 50% of their respective populations (United Nations Development Program), it is no surprise that the prevalence of illiteracy is a common problem in the world, thus posing great risk for the integrity of literacy around the world.  However, illiteracy is not often caused by a simple lack of intelligence.  Although learning disabilities do not entail all of the likely causes of illiteracy, these represent significant causes for many who are illiterate.

Learning Disabilities

There are a significant number of learning disabilities that may play a significant role in the prevalence of illiteracy.  It must be mentioned that learning disabilities do not account for all illiteracy, of course.  Even in this segment of the causes of illiteracy, teaching methods can account for the development of illiteracy, where the use of phonics for students learning to read is not conducive to some.  However, the following three learning disabilities represent common causes of illiteracy.

One lesser known disability is that of short term memory.  Disabilities revolving around short term memory can become linked to illiteracy in many children and adults.  If something is not repeated enough to some who have this disability, in order for the information to be processed into long term memory, then the information will of course not be remembered.  As it is apparent, illiteracy can develop in these individuals quite easily, as the retaining important information becomes much more difficult.

Another learning disability is found in Auditory Processing Disorder (APD).  This term covers a number of disorders that are involved in the way the brain processes auditory information.  It is not linked to a lack of intelligence or hearing ability, however.  It is also not involved in a lack of attention, language, or cognitive functioning as well.  APD can affect a number of important qualities with regards to literacy.  An individual can have problem noticing sounds, discrimination in auditory qualities, and other difficulties affecting literacy.

The role in APD in literacy rates is even more complicated due to its nature in diagnosis.  For instance, APD is often misdiagnosed as Asperger syndrome, forms of autism, and ADD/ADHD, although APD is comorbid to aspects in these conditions (Schminky and Baran).  Complicating matters, it is difficult for some individuals to get the time they need in order to help with the condition.  APD affects literacy directly and indirectly, in these matters, unfortunately.

Perhaps most strongly of these three conditions, is the presence of dyslexia in literacy rates.   Believed to affect anywhere between 5% and 17% of the population, according to estimates (Birsh), dyslexia is a learning disability surrounding issues in reading.  Comprehension, fluency, and decoding in reading are all prominent qualities of someone with dyslexia.

Dyslexia is seen in a wide range of children.  Distinguishing words, spelling, and other problems surrounding a child’s literacy are affected by the condition, which becomes difficult as it is untreated, which is not too uncommon.  Of course adults are affected as well by dyslexia in that of illiteracy.  Further complicating matters in dyslexia is the presence of other learning disabilities, which may occur along with the condition, such as cluttering, Dysgraphia, and Dyscalculia.

Conclusion

Learning disabilities account for a considerable portion of illiteracy.  While they certainly do not represent all of the problems related to illiteracy rates, they pose a primary cause in many individuals who are deemed illiterate.  As one common cause of illiteracy, learning disabilities demonstrate the reasonable account of the presence of illiteracy, which combats notions of simple lack of intelligence believed by many.

Works Cited

Birsh, Judith. “Research and reading disability” in Multisensory Teaching of Basic Language Skills. Baltimore, Maryland: Paul H. Brookes Publishing, 2005.

Schminky, Mignon, and Jane Baran. “Central Auditory Processing Disorders – An Overview of Assessment and Management Practices.” Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Web. Retrieved July 28, 2010.

United Nations Development Program. “United Nations Development Programme Report 2009.” Web. Retrieved July 28, 2010.