When Learning is a Struggle
Children are required to learn many skills as they navigate through life. They must learn to speak and to write, how to read, how to complete math problems. These skills come with great ease to some and with great difficulty to others. Some children will be exceptional in language skills but struggle mathematically or with writing. Each individual child learns at a different pace, with different methods, and with different struggles. As parents, it is our responsibility to help children figure out the methods that work best for them and to determine the areas they may need more help.
What are learning disabilities?
A learning disability is a broad term to describe a difficulty in a wide range of learning and thinking skills. There are specific learning disabilities and more broad difficulties in learning. There may be underlying causes or conditions that make learning more difficult, such as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or Dyspraxia (disorder of movement and coordination of language and speech).
Learning disabilities are caused by genetics and/or other biological factors that alter brain function. They affect they way an individual interacts with the world around them, and can extend past elementary and secondary schools into adulthood. Learning disabilities are NOT caused by underlying abnormalities in vision, hearing, intellectual ability or physical handicaps, nor from disadvantages of economic or social environments.
There are several types of specific learning disabilities. These are categorized by function and include the following:
- Dyslexia – affects reading and language-based processing
- Dysgraphia – affects handwriting and fine motor skills
- Dyscalculia – affects math facts and understanding numbers
- Non-Verbal – affects interpretation of non-verbal cues (body language, facial cues)
- Oral/Written and Reading Comprehension Deficit – affects understanding of language, whether read or spoken.
How are learning disabilities diagnosed?
The first step is to identify that your child is struggling in an area of learning. Learning disabilities are diagnosed through specific testing of children. This testing will demonstrate a significant difference between a child’s intelligence (aka, IQ) and achievement on standardized testing. Children with learning disabilities have a normal IQ but will test significantly lower on the standardized testing in their area of difficulty – be it math, writing, or reading.
Assessment may also include neurodevelopmental skills, including memory, attention, and language development. Social/emotional evaluations may also be important.
The process of evaluation for learning disabilities can be long and complicated. Depending on the regulations where you live, the school system may be able to conduct some or all of these evaluations. One of the first steps if you are concerned your child may have a learning disability is to contact the school to start discussing potential evaluations. Be persistent! It may take several inquiries before your child receives the evaluation he or she needs.
What resources are available for my child?
There is no “cure” for learning disabilities, however, children can benefit from services and support systems. Many of these take place through the school system.
An Individualized Education Plan, or IEP, can help tailor the needs of your child in regards to education. After identification of a learning disability, your family should schedule a meeting with the school to set up an IEP specific for your child’s optimal methods of learning.
Special education services are available for those children who meet criteria for a significant enough learning disability. This does NOT mean a child will be kept in separate classrooms entirely. Many special education programs provide full or partial inclusion in the regular classroom, with added services for the children in the program. These services may include separate, quiet locations for testing, time out of class for therapies (such as speech or occupational therapy), or sessions with a school counselor.
How can I help my child at home?
Avoid negative labels. Help your child to understand the difficulties he or she faces, but also focus on the positive ways to work through them.
Be your child’s advocate. The process of diagnosis and obtaining support and adequate resources for your child can be daunting. Keep asking, keep calling, keep pushing for your child to receive the help he or she needs. It is a long process and YOU are the strongest voice in your child’s corner.
Focus on your child’s strengths. This will help enable your child to feel accomplished and have a positive self worth, even when they are struggling with a particular area of learning.
Choose words wisely. Learn to praise effort and progress rather than outcome. Try not to focus on individual grades as much as you do the effort your child puts forth.
Find resources and support for you. Many times having a child with a learning disability means that you have to find alternative ways of parenting. Traditional punishments for poor school work may not be reasonable or as affective as in a child who does not struggle with any difficulties in learning.
Support your child’s emotional health. Growing up is challenging. School is challenging. Putting the two of those together, combined with any specific learning disability can lead to emotional meltdowns, social withdrawal, anxiety, and even depression. Help your child work through his or her feelings and emotions in a healthy way. Never talk down to your child about his or her learning disability, or infer that it’s not worth trying to understand.
Resources
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