How Learning Disabilities Affect Our Childrens Lives
Learning Disabilities, What Are the Different Types?
If you are a mom like me, then you will be on the watch for common signs of learning disabilites in your children. Your ability to detect these disabilities will mean the difference between success and trouble in your childs life.
We will spend some time reviewing the types of learning disabilities and the effects on our childrens lives. When you have a special kid, life can have its challenges.
Specific Learning Disorder With Impairment In Reading
Some people may refer to this condition as dyslexia.
This type of learning disorder can make it challenging to:
- spacing words and letters consistently
You may also:
- have unusual, difficult-to-read, or distorted handwriting
- tend to skip letters when writing
- have difficulty with fine motor skills when doing other tasks such as using eating utensils or sewing
The Seven Learning Disabilities
It is no accident that most organizations learn poorly. The way they are designed and managed, the way peoples jobs are defined, and, most importantly, the way we have all been taught to think and interact create fundamental learning disabilities. These disabilities operate despite the best efforts of bright, committed people. Often the harder they try to solve problems, the worse the results. What learning does occur takes place despite these learning disabilitiesfor they pervade all organizations to some degree.
Ive excerpted certain lines from the section on the seven disabilities along with some commentary on what Ive seen and felt while running my company Barrel.
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How Common Are Different Kinds Of Learning And Attention Issues
Converging epidemiological evidence indicates at least 1 in 5 children in the U.S. have learning and attention issues. Prevalence estimates vary for conditions such as dyslexia because different studies use different definitions. There is no blood test or other quick way to tell if a child has a learning or attention issue. An accurate diagnosis involves comprehensive assessment protocols that look at many kinds of behaviors and skills.
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*Also known as developmental coordination disorder
Comorbidity is common
Its important to keep in mind that many children have more than one learning or attention issue. For example, researchers have found that dyslexia and dyscalculia^ co-occur in 30% to 70% of children who have either disorder.2 Studies also indicate as many as 45% of children with ADHD also have a learning disability^.3
Supporting Kids With Learning Disabilities: What Parents Need To Know
Children with learning disabilities can fight their struggles and become better versions of themselves. With timely intervention and support, children can be successful in school. It is always advised to seek help from a mental health professional or other trained specialists for the required intervention or therapy.Here are some of the ways parents can help children through their learning disabilities:
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Discover 10 Types Of Learning Disabilities
There are different types of learning disabilities. These disabling conditions are either present at birth or gradually develop during the childs early development.
The leading causes are injury to the brain, which affects its growth, and a primary nervous system disorder.
Identifying these disorders early makes them easier to treat, so school curricula should include special education programs.
What kinds of learning disabilities are there today? Most of you have probably run into a few terms when searching. Lets explore the most common learning disabilities.
What Is The Main Cause Of Disability
Arthritis and other musculoskeletal problems.
These are the most common causes of long-term disability. They make up as much as a third of all disability cases. Arthritis is probably the biggest single cause.
How can we help disabled children?
How to treat a child with special needs?
How does disability affect child development?
In addition, children who have learning disabilities have a much greater chance of developing mental health needs, if the appropriate support is not put into place. Having a disability might also place limits on learning and restrict what children and young people can do and how much they can join in activities.
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Signs And Symptoms Of Learning Disabilities: Ages 5
- Trouble learning the connection between letters and sounds.
- Unable to blend sounds to make words.
- Confuses basic words when reading.
- Slow to learn new skills.
- Consistently misspells words and makes frequent errors.
- Trouble learning basic math concepts.
- Difficulty telling time and remembering sequences.
How Common Are Learning Disabilities
Understanding Common Types of Learning Disabilities
It is estimated that between three and five percent of Americans have a learning disability. This means that millions of people are affected by these disorders each year. Approximately 40 percent of people with learning disabilities have a second disability as well.
Out of this population, boys are more likely to have a learning disability than girls. This is because boys are more likely to have a neurological disorder that impacts learning.
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Learning Disabilities In Reading
There are two types of learning disabilities in reading. Basic reading problems occur when there is difficulty understanding the relationship between sounds, letters and words. Reading comprehension problems occur when there is an inability to grasp the meaning of words, phrases, and paragraphs.
Signs of reading difficulty include problems with:
- Letter and word recognition.
Contrast With Other Conditions
People with an IQ lower than 70 are usually characterized as having an intellectual disability and are not included under most definitions of learning disabilities because their difficulty in learning are considered to be related directly to their overall low intelligence.
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder is often studied in connection with learning disabilities, but it is not actually included in the standard definitions of learning disabilities. Individuals with ADHD may struggle with learning, but can often learn adequately once successfully treated for the ADHD. A person can have ADHD but not learning disabilities or have learning disabilities without having ADHD. The conditions can co-occur.
People diagnosed with ADHD sometimes have impaired learning. Some of the struggles people with ADHD have might include lack of motivation, high levels of anxiety, and the inability to process information. There are studies that suggest people with ADHD generally have a positive attitude toward academics and, with medication and developed study skills, can perform just as well as individuals without learning disabilities. Also, using alternate sources of gathering information, such as websites, study groups and learning centers, can help a person with ADHD be academically successful.
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Signs And Symptoms Of Learning Disabilities And Disorders
If youre worried, dont wait
If you suspect that your childs learning difficulties may require special assistance, please do not delay in finding support. The sooner you move forward, the better your childs chances for reaching their full potential.
Learning disabilities look very different from one child to another. One child may struggle with reading and spelling, while another loves books but cant understand math. Still another child may have difficulty understanding what others are saying or communicating out loud. The problems are very different, but they are all learning disorders.
Its not always easy to identify learning disabilities. Because of the wide variations, there is no single symptom or profile that you can look to as proof of a problem. However, some warning signs are more common than others at different ages. If youre aware of what they are, youll be able to catch a learning disorder early and quickly take steps to get your child help.
The following checklists offer some common red flags for learning disorders. Remember that children who dont have learning disabilities may still experience some of these difficulties at various times. The time for concern is when there is a consistent unevenness in your childs ability to master certain skills.
In 5 Children In The Us Have Learning And Attention Issues
Children with dyslexia^, ADHD^ and other kinds of learning and attention issues are as smart as their peers. But without the right support, many fall behind academically and struggle socially. Theyre more likely to repeat a grade, get in trouble at school or with the law, drop out and struggle as adults to find work. But this downward spiral can be prevented.
This data-intensive report provides insights into the challenges facing the 1 in 5 as well as specifics on how to improve outcomes in school, work and the community. We start with a snapshot of learning and attention issuesfocusing on the costs to society when these issues remain unaddressed.
What are Learning and Attention Issues?
Learning and attention issues are brain-based difficulties in reading, writing, math, organization, focus, listening comprehension, social skills, motor skills or a combination of these. Learning and attention issues are not the result of low intelligence, poor vision or hearing, or lack of access to quality instruction.
Common Examples
| OTHER DIFFICULTIES THAT AFFECT LEARNING AND BEHAVIOR |
Risk Factors
Barriers to Success
Ways to Help
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Three Different Types Of Learning Disabilities
The American Psychiatric Associations gigantic manual, the DSM-5, only lists one kind of learning disability. That overarching label, Specific Learning Disability, is also what youd see listed on a childs Individualized Education Plan, or IEP. The manual then breaks down Specific Learning Disabilities into three different types of learning disabilities based on subject. Lets look at each one separately.
Type : Traumatic Brain Injuries
There are over 2 million head injuries in the U.S. every year. And the number of concussions diagnosed among young people aged 10-19 has skyrocketed by 71%. Many people arent aware that mild brain injuries can lead to confusion, difficulty with concentration and paying attention, memory problems, anxiety, depression, and moreall of which can interfere with academic performance.
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General Overview Of Sld/ Case Study
The following text is an excerpt from: Educational Psychology. Chapter 5 : Kelvin Seifert and Rosemary Sutton. . License: CC BY: Attribution From https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/textbooks/153
A specific learning disability is a specific impairment of academic learning that interferes with a specific aspect of schoolwork and that reduces a students academic performance significantly. An LD shows itself as a major discrepancy between a students ability and some feature of achievement: the student may be delayed in reading, writing, listening, speaking, or doing mathematics, but not in all of these at once. A learning problem is not considered a learning disability if it stems from physical, sensory, or motor handicaps, or from generalized intellectual impairment. It is also not an LD if the learning problem really reflects the challenges of learning English as a second language. Genuine LDs are the learning problems left over after these other possibilities are accounted for or excluded. Typically, a student with an LD has not been helped by teachers ordinary efforts to assist the student when he or she falls behind academicallythough what counts as an ordinary effort, of course, differs among teachers, schools, and students. Most importantly, though, an LD relates to a fairly specific area of academic learning. A student may be able to read and compute well enough, for example, but not be able to write.
Defining learning disabilities clearly
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Other Conditions That May Affect Learning
Strengths of Students with Learning Disabilities and Other Disorders
Other neurodevelopmental conditions that can also affect learning include:
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder : This mental health condition is characterized by high impulsivity, hyperactivity, or both.
- Developmental coordination disorder : This motor disorder can affect your motor skills, ability to plan, and coordination.
- Auditory processing disorder: If you have this condition, your brain has difficulty processing the sounds you hear.
These conditions dont fall into the category of specific learning disorders, but their signs can sometimes resemble the signs of learning disorders.
Whats more, you can also have any of these conditions as well as a learning disorder. In fact, many people with ADHD also have a specific learning disorder.
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The Enemy Is Out There
The enemy is out there syndrome is actually a by-product of I am my position, and the nonsystemic ways of looking at the world that it fosters. When we focus only on our position, we do not see how our own actions extend beyond the boundary of that position. When those actions have consequences that come back to hurt us, we misperceive these new problems as externally caused. Like the person being chased by his own shadow, we cannot seem to shake them.
I think one of the most pleasing things Ive seen at Barrel, especially over the past few years, has been the widespread sense of ownership at the company. Weve been very good about squashing an us versus them mentality when it comes to clients and instead, framed it as how can we be of the greatest benefit and resource to our clients. Ive observed team members going above and beyond to answer questions, troubleshoot issues, and work on complex challenges with patience all in order to help our clients hit their goals and look good to their bosses.
What Is A Learning Disability Exactly
The learning disability is defined as any mental condition that prevents a person from acquiring the same amount of knowledge as others in their age group.
Do you want to learn more about the different types of learning disabilities? Keep reading to find out the 5 most common learning disabilities special education and their symptoms.
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Auditory And Visual Processing Disorders
With these types of disorders, a person has “difficulty receiving and responding to information that comes through the senses, despite normal hearing and vision,” Schiff explains.
For instance, someone with an auditory processing disorder has trouble hearingbut there’s nothing wrong with the person’s ear. Instead, this occurs because brain doesn’t process and “hear” sounds, according to Nationwide Children’s Hospital. This can affect learning in many ways. Following spoken directions or listening to someone speak for a period of time are difficult. That said, it is not considered a learning disorder, according to the Nemours Foundation.
Similarly, with a visual processing disorder, the hold-up occurs in the brain, not someone’s eyes. This disorder “makes it difficult to interpret visual information, such as telling the difference between two shapes,” Schiff says.
Are You Born With Learning Disabilities
We do not always know why a person has a learning disability. Sometimes it is because a persons brain development is affected, either before they are born, during their birth or in early childhood. This can be caused by things such as: the mother becoming ill in pregnancy.
What are the 5 types of learning disabilities?
Generally speaking, people with learning disabilities are of average or above average intelligence.Types of Learning Disabilities
- Problems staying organized.
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What Is Specific Learning Disorder
Specific learning disorders are neurodevelopmental disorders that are typically diagnosed in early school-aged children, although may not be recognized until adulthood. They are characterized by a persistent impairment in at least one of three major areas: reading, written expression, and/or math.
An estimated five to 15% of school-age children struggle with a learning disability.1 An estimated 80% of those with learning disorders have an impairment in reading in particular . Dyslexia is highly prevalent affecting 20% of the population.2 Dyslexia affects male and females equally. There is a high comorbidity of specific learning disorder with other neurodevelopmental disorders as well as anxiety.1
Specific skills that may be affected include word reading accuracy, spelling, grammar, or calculation. In addition, fluency in reading and mathematics may be noted. Difficulties with these skills often cause problems in learning subjects such as history, math, science and social studies and may impact everyday activities and social interactions.
Learning disorders are categorized as mild, moderate and severe. Accommodation and support services align with the severity to facilitate a persons most effective functioning.
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Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a neurobehavioral developmental disorder commonly diagnosed in children and adolescents.
It is a neurobehavioral disorder affecting 3% to 7% of school-aged children and 4% to 11% of adults. Several behaviors must be present for someone to be diagnosed with ADHD.
In particular, they include poor attention spans, hyperactivity or restlessness, impulsive behaviors, or difficulty delaying gratification or waiting for their turn.
ADHD presents a unique set of challenges to many people with significant learning disabilities, as it can be hard to keep a consistent focus and absorb information.
It can be even more difficult for a person who cannot focus to learn what they need to know to succeed at school.
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What Are The 7 Main Types Of Learning Disabilities
The seven main types of learning disabilities as classified by the Learning Disabilities Association of America and other mental health practitioners are as follows:
Understood.org has created a wonderful resource to help us experience these learning disabilities through the eyes of children.