What causes learning disorders?

Things that might play roles in learning disorders include:

• Family history and genes. Having a blood relative, such as a parent, with a learning disorder raises the risk of a child having a disorder.
• Risks before birth and shortly after. Learning disorders have been linked with poor growth in the uterus and exposure to alcohol or drugs before being born. Learning disorders also have been tied to being born too early and having a very low weight at birth.
• Emotional trauma. This could involve a deeply stressful experience or emotional abuse. If either happens in early childhood, it may affect how the brain develops and raise the risk of learning disorders.
• Physical trauma. Head injuries or nervous system illnesses might play a role in the development of learning disorders.
• Poisonous substances. Exposure to high levels of toxins, such as lead, has been linked to a larger risk of learning disorders.