learning disability
Learning Disabilities in Children: Types, symptoms, ways to help
Learning Disabilities (LD) in children refers to problems with speaking, reading, writing, spelling, and doing maths. LD can even affect the school performance of children who are of normal or above-average intelligence. However, despite their normal intelligence, they don’t do well with school skills and academic performance. LD can be of various types. Let’s know some common types of learning disorders in children.
6 Common types of Learning Disabilities in Children
Different types of learning disabilities affect different aspects of the brain. Each one affects different areas of learning.
Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)
The children who suffer from this disorder are unable to distinguish between similar yet different sounds in words. Such kids are also unable to tell where the sound is coming from and in which order. Kids with APD conditions may find it difficult to block background noise also. Boys are more prone to have it than girls.
Common symptoms :
-difficulty hearing speech in noisy environments.
-difficulty maintaining attention.
-problems locating the source of a sound.
-difficulty following directions.
-commonly asking for information to be repeated.
-inability to detect subtle changes in tone.
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Ways to help:
Although there's no cure for APD, some ways can help.
Classroom support
You can take the help of Electronic devices- an FM (frequency modulation) system that can help your child hear the teacher clearly. They can also sit toward the front of the class to limit background noise.
Making other skills stronger
If you can help your child to develop some things such as memory, problem-solving, and other learning skills, she/he can deal with APD.
Therapy
You can try speech therapy that can help your child to recognize sounds and improve conversational skills. Besides, supporting your child in reading that focuses on specific areas.
Changes at home
You can make a few changes at home to help your child with APD like covering hard floors with rugs to reduce echoes and limiting the use of the TV, radio, and other noisy electronics.
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Dyscalculia
When dyscalculia affects, the brain cannot comprehend numbers and mathematical symbols. Children with this disorder will have trouble with learning the order of numbers, and counting, as well as difficulty with telling time.
Common symptoms:
-difficulty counting backward.
-difficulty remembering 'basic' facts.
-slow to perform calculations.
-weak mental arithmetic skills.
-a poor sense of numbers & estimation.
-difficulty in understanding place value.
-the addition is often the default operation.
-high levels of mathematics anxiety.
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Ways to help:
-Children who play games using dominoes can understand simple maths concepts.
-Resist Using Worksheets.
-Use Manipulatives.
-Learn the Language of Math.
-Create Visual Models.
-Use Accommodations.
-Teach Toward Understanding.
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Dysgraphia
This disorder affects children's fine motor skills and the ability to write. Children with this disability cannot make their handwriting good and they follow disproportionate spacing between words.
Common symptoms:
-incorrect spelling and capitalization
-mixup of cursive and print letters
-inappropriate sizing and spacing of letters
-difficulty copying words
-slow or laboured writing
-difficulty visualising words before writing them
-unusual body or hand position when writing
-watching your hand while you write
-saying words aloud while writing
-omitting letters and words from sentences.
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Ways to help:
-Stretch out your hands.
-Learn to touch-type.
-Use cursive vs.
-Request accommodations.
-Try different paper and pens.
-Make audio recordings.
-Recite word spelling out loud.
-Brainstorm ideas before writing.
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Dyslexia
This disability affects reading and language-related comprehension skills. It is also called a Language-Based Learning Disability. Besides, this disorder can affect reading, writing, reading comprehension, and spelling.
Common symptoms:
-Difficulty reading, including reading aloud.
-Slow and labour-intensive reading and writing.
-Problems spelling.
-Avoid activities that involve reading.
-Cannot pronounce names or words, or have problems recalling words.
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Ways to help:
-Read to your child to improve their vocabulary and listening skills. This will also make them interested in books.
-Share reading; read some books and then discuss what's happening
-Overlearning.
-Silent reading.
-Make reading fun.
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Language Processing Disorder
It is a type of Auditory Processing Disorder that affects only the comprehension of language.
Common symptoms:
-Difficulty Following Directions.
-Trouble Rhyming At An Early Age.
-Vocabulary, Pronunciation, and Grammar Concerns.
-Attention Deficits.
-Inconsistent Performance.
-Reading Difficulty.
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Ways to Help:
-Keep your child engaged all time and establish eye contact when communicating with them.
-Give frequent instructions and guidelines.
-Use real materials to help learn concepts.
-Break down the tasks, especially for children with auditory challenges.
-Give the child more time to process and remember information.
-Do not rush at the time of speaking
-Highlight references to the child’s previous experiences and knowledge to help him make meaningful connections.
-Tell the child to follow you at every point.
-Minimise the pressure on the child. You need to be always encouraging.
-Give examples whenever teach anything
-Confirm that they can ask for clarification whenever they want.
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Non-Verbal Learning Disabilities
Children with this disability are weak in motor skills, spatial understanding, and poor social skills.
Common Symptoms:
-An incapacity to read non-verbal social cues; expressions and body language.
-Difficulty identifying and understanding sarcasm.
-Difficulty recognizing emotions in others.
-Trouble understanding visual information.
-Trouble grasping spatial relationships and judging distance.
-Poor physical coordination.
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Ways to help:
-Train faculty and staff
-Monitor progress and problems
-Shorten homework assignments
-Pair your child with a classroom buddy
-Maintain ongoing social skills training
-prevent bullying, taunting, and even exclusion
-Respect children when they say, “I can’t”
-Request that all tests be taken untimed
-Block out long-term projects
- Have a full technology evaluation
--Praise frequently and don't say anything negative in public places.
-Consider therapy.
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Conclusion
Learning Disabilities in children are curable problems. If your child has been exhibiting the symptoms of learning disabilities, take steps early and help them develop into the best person they can be. Give them your valuable time so that they can feel valued and encouraged to develop. Contact doctors if you observe serious issues in your child.
2 years ago
Dyslexia: How to help kids with this learning disability
Disorders that affect the abilities of understanding or using spoken or written language, doing mathematical calculations, coordinating movements, directing attention are called learning disabilities. Dyslexia is one kind of learning disability. This may happen in very young children but they are generally not recognized until the child reaches school age. Continue scrolling to know how to help children with Dyslexia.
What is dyslexia?
If a child struggles with reading, writing, or speaking maybe she or he is with dyslexia. When you or your partner or someone else in your large family struggles to learn to read, dyslexia is probably the cause.
It is a specific learning difficulty and can affect (10-15)% of the population. It can be mild, moderate, or severe and it can run in families. If a child experiences a particular learning difficulty like dyslexia, it does not mean they are less intelligent than their peers, they just process and learn in a different way.
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Reading and spelling difficulties are most common in dyslexia. Besides, it can also affect an individual’s ability to remember information also.
Symptoms of Dyslexia
Although it is difficult to identify the signs and symptoms of dyslexia before your child enters school, some early clues may indicate a problem.
Before school
Symptoms that a young child may experience are as follow:
-Late talking
-Learning new words slowly
-Face problems forming words correctly- reversing sounds in words or confusing words that sound alike
-Cannot easily remember letters, numbers, and colors
-Difficulty learning nursery rhymes or playing rhyming games.
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School-age
Dyslexia signs and symptoms of school-age children may be:
-Reading level remains below the expected level for age
-Face difficulties in processing and understanding hearing
-Don't find the right word or form answers to questions
-Cannot remember the sequence of things
-Problems sounding out the pronunciation of an unfamiliar word
-Difficulty spelling
-Take a long time completing tasks related to reading or writing
-Don't like to take part in reading activities.
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Teens and adults
Some common dyslexia signs and symptoms in teens and adults are:
-Difficulty aloud reading
-Slow and labor-intensive reading and writing
-Problems spelling
-Difficulties of mispronunciation
-Take a long time completing tasks that involve reading or writing
-Difficulty summarizing a story
-Trouble learning a foreign language
-Difficulty memorizing
-Difficulty doing math problems.
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Causes of Dyslexia
Dyslexia tends to be a genetic problem. The causes are as follows:
-A family history of dyslexia
-Premature birth or low birth weight
-Take nicotine, drugs, or alcohol during pregnancy or being infected that may alter brain development in the fetus
Complications of Dyslexia
Dyslexia can create the following problems:
Trouble learning
Of course, reading is a basic skill like most other school subjects. A child with dyslexia experiences difficulties in reading class and cannot keep up with peers.
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Social problems
Children with dyslexia may experience low self-esteem, behavior problems, anxiety, aggression, and withdrawal from friends, parents, and teachers.
Problems as adults
Children with dyslexia or learning disabilities cannot reach their potential when they grow up.
10 Effective Ways to Help Children with Dyslexia
Here are 10 practical ways to assist kids with dyslexia.
Nurture thinking skills
Grow thinking skills in your child so that they become an independent and active learner rather than passive learner. Discuss the problem or topic related to school assignments. Share points of view. You can spend fun and quality time together with your child.
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Work on reading skills
Ask them some questions to understand your reading comprehension. The questions may include: What do you have to find out? What do you already know? Who are the main characters? What are the main ideas? Have you read something like this before? What’s your plan for answering this question? If your children follow these steps, they will increase their reading skills.
Work independently
Let your child handle his or her work independently. But make sure you follow up afterward. Your follow-up question: Did you use your plan? Is this your best work? Can you clarify this? Show me how to do it?
Praise
Never forget to praise appropriately to your child. Perfect praise and rewards are a great thing for your child. Don’t miss any opportunities to acknowledge their effort and highlight the positives where you can.
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Building positive self-image
Dyslexic children may have to try much harder than other kids to keep up with school work, which can be tiring and eat away at self-esteem. So, let them create a positive self-image of themselves and remind them of their strengths. Help them keep things in perspective when they're having a bad time.
Allowing enough sleep
Enough sleep is fundamental for every child and it is more essential for dyslexia children. Naturally, a well-fed and well-rested child learns better. So, make sure they go to bed early so that they wake up refreshed. A good night’s sleep boosts confidence and helps review information right before bed.
Providing study space
Different children learn in different ways. Some can study in a noisy place but some others cannot. Try to understand your child's choice and make sure they know they have a dedicated space to retreat to when they need it.
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Following custom calendar
A custom calendar can give your child a nice routine for his studies. Prepare a calendar and put it on a notice board or the fridge and keep it up to date. Make your child prepared for tomorrow the night before.
Setting ground rules
If you have a target for work to be completed, make some ground rules. Never tolerate conflict. As you are in charge as a parent, set out your expectations clearly. Make them understand that without finishing the work, they don’t enjoy certain privileges.
Bottom Line
Dyslexia or learning disability is not a permanent or serious problem. Your care, love and companionship can ease this problem. Besides, you need to take some effective steps to work with dyslexia-affected children. Our above-mentioned tips will help to handle your child with dyslexia.
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2 years ago