Learning Disabilities
A learning disability is a disorder that interferes with a person’s ability to store, process, or produce information. Some children with prenatal alcohol or drug exposure will have learning disabilities. Learning disabilities create a “gap” between one’s ability and performance. These difficulties can show up in many ways: a child may have specific trouble with spoken and written language, coordination, self-control, or attention. Sometimes these problems affect schoolwork and can make learning to read, write, or do math harder. But having a learning disability does not mean the child is not smart.
Types of learning disabilities
There are two kinds of learning disabilities. People with speech and language disorders have difficulty producing speech sounds, using spoken language to communicate, or understanding what other people say. Some of these disorders are outgrown or successfully treated with speech or language therapy. Speech and language problems are often early indicators of other learning disabilities.
Students with academic skills disorders lag behind their classmates in developing reading, writing, or arithmetic skills. Some common types are dyslexia (reading), dyscalculia (math), or dysgraphia (writing).
Signs and symptoms
Parents and caregivers eagerly await the first time a child walks, talks, or writes his name. If the child is very slow to reach these milestones, this may be the first sign of a problem. For example, being behind two years in school is considered significant and should require an evaluation. Remember though that most people have difficulties with learning and behavior sometimes. Below is a checklist of problem behaviors from the National Center for Learning Disabilities. If you are seeing any of the things on the list consistently over a period of time, consider asking a health care provider or educator for further information, advice or help:
Preschool
Does the child have trouble with or delayed development in:
- Learning the alphabet
- Rhyming words
- Connecting sounds to letters
- Counting and learning numbers
- Being understood by strangers
- Using scissors, crayons, and paints
- Over or under sensitive to touch
- Dressing self without assistance
- Pronouncing words
- Walking up and down stairs
- Remembering the names of colors
- Using words or, later, stringing words together into phrases
Elementary school
Does the child have trouble with:
- Learning new vocabulary
- Speaking in full sentences
- Understanding conversation rules
- Retelling stories
- Remembering new information
- Playing with peers
- Moving from one activity to another
- Expressing thoughts with words
- Holding a pencil
- Handwriting
- Doing math problems at grade level
- Following directions
- Self-esteem
- Remembering routines
- Learning new skills
- Understanding what he or she reads
- Succeeding in at least one subject
- Drawing or copying shapes
- Understanding what information presented in class is important
- Modulating voice (may speak too loudly or in a monotone)
- Keeping notebook neat and assignments organized
- Remembering and sticking to deadlines
- Understanding how to play age-appropriate board games
Getting a diagnosis
The actual diagnosis of a learning disability is made by using standardized tests. The child’s school should be able to conduct the evaluation for free to determine if the child has a disability, and what kind of special help might be beneficial. Evaluation by a neuropsychologist or occupational therapist may be needed as well.
The test scores won’t tell the whole story though. It is important to ask questions like:
- What do these scores mean?
- Is the child doing as well as other children his or her age?
- What does the child do well?
- Where is the child having trouble?
- What is causing the trouble?
If you don’t understand something in the child’s evaluation results, be sure to speak up, especially if the results don’t match your own knowledge of the child. Share your insights. Your knowledge of the child is important and can help determine what special services he or she receives.
This information has been adapted from “Learning Disabilities and Your Grandchild”, Laura Summerhill, LCSW, M.S. Ed, KeySpan Energy’s On Track Program, http://www.brooklyngrandparentscoalition.org/heartshare.htm, 2006.
