Learning Disorders

What is a learning disorder?

• A learning disorder, or learning disability, is when a person has trouble with one or more parts of school work. The trouble is more than expected for their age and general intelligence.
• People with learning disorders can be very intelligent in general.

What types of learning disorder are there?

• Reading disorder.
• Writing disorder.
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• Mathematics disorder.

What are some signs of learning disorders?

• Trouble recognizing or being able to blend sounds into words
• Skipping over words while reading.
• Trouble explaining what was read.
• Reversing the order of numbers or letters in a word or math problem
• Trouble remembering math facts
• Handwriting that is slow, hard to read or poorly spaced

If you think your child may have a learning disorder, it is important that you get him/her evaluated. Getting help at an early age can help children with learning disorders do well. Schools often have programs to help children with learning disabilities. An IEP or 504 plan are special education services available for many children with learning disorders. If addressed early, some children with learning disorders may not need special education services.

Learning disorders are common; about 15% of children have a learning disorder.

It is very common for children who have a learning disorder to also have ADHD.

A learning disorder can come in many different forms and can lead to different problems if not addressed. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children may have difficulty learning to:

• Listen
• Speak
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• Read
• Write
• Reason
• Concentrate
• Solve mathematical problems
• Organize information

Without treatment, learning difficulties may lead to:

• Frustration
• Low self-confidence
• Poor self-esteem
• Increased risk of developing psychological and emotional problems, like anxiety problems

Here are some ideas for helping your child:

• Work closely with his/her teacher. See if the teacher has strategies that you could both use to encourage your child to do his/her best at home and at school.
• Promote and reward your child's strengths. For example, if your child has trouble spelling, make sure he/she follows that homework with something he/she is better at, like math. This can remind your child that he/she has strengths even when discouraged.
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• Reward your child's effort, not achievement. For example, if you know your child worked very hard to study for a test praise and reward him/her even if he/she doesn't get an excellent grade. Remember, not everyone gets As and that is okay. What matters is that your child is trying.
• Have homework done at the same time each day. This will help your child develop good study habits, which may benefit all areas of learning.
• Provide him/her with the skills needed to cope with potential setbacks. For example, teach your child to take a short break when he/she gets frustrated and then come back to try again.
• Work together to make a plan for what to do when the problem comes up again. For example, plan out with your child how he/she will prepare for class projects, quizzes, and tests. Put dates for studying on the calendar. Help your child recognize when he/she needs to ask for help from your or a teacher. Remind your child of his/her strengths before an tough class project, quiz, or test.
• Listen to your child. Listening is very important. When you listen to your child's complaints and show your support, it helps build your relationship with your child and teaches him/her how to cope.

Your child should not be held back by a learning disability in school or in his/her career. You can help your child see his/her potential for success and not to let him/her get discouraged by a learning disability.

You may find these resources helpful:

http://patiented.aap.org/content2.aspx?aid=5572

http://www.ncld.org/parents-child-disabilities/ld-testing/if-you-suspect-child-has-learning-disability

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/124/2/837.full.pdf