LEARNING DISABILITIES- INFORMATION FOR PARENTS
If your child is trying his best to learn certain skills but is not able to keep up with his peers, it’s important to find out why. Your child may have a learning disability (or LD).
What is a Learning Disability?
Learning disability is a term used to describe a range of learning problems. These problems have to do with the way the brain receives, uses, stores, and sends out information. As many as 15% of children have a LD. Children with LDs may have trouble with one of the following skills: reading, writing, listening, speaking, reasoning, or math. The most common LD is a reading disorder.
Learning disabilities do not include ADHD, intellectual disability, lack of instruction, or hearing/vision/motor problems. However, some children can have both an LD and one of the diagnoses above. Many children also have more than one LD.
What Causes Learning Disabilities?
The causes aren’t always known, but many children with LDs have a parent or relative with the same or similar learning difficulties. Other risk factors include low birth weight and prematurity, or an injury or illness during childhood (for example, head injury, lead poisoning, or meningitis).
How Do I Know If My Child Has a Learning Disability?
Learning disabilities are not always obvious. However, let your child’s doctor know if your child shows any of the following signs:
Preschool children (who may later have LDs) may have:
- Delays in language development. By 2 ½ years of age, your child should be able to talk in phrases or short sentences.
- Trouble with speech. By 3 years of age, your child should speak well enough so that adults can understand most of what she says.
- Trouble learning colors, shapes, letters, and numbers.
- Trouble rhyming words.
- Trouble with coordination. By 5 years of age, your child should be able to button her clothing, use scissors to cut shapes out of paper, and hop. She should be able to copy a circle, square, or triangle.
- Short attention spans. Between 3 to 5 years of age, your child should be able to sit still and listen to a short story. As your child gets older, she should be able to pay attention for a longer time.
- Follow directions.
- Get and stay organized at home and school
- Understand verbal directions
- Learn facts and remember information
- Read, spell, or sound out words
- Write clearly (may have poor handwriting)
- Do math calculations or word problems
- Focus on and finish schoolwork (may daydream often)
- Explain information clearly with speech or in writing
Children with a reading disorder (also called dyslexia, reading disability, and specific reading disability) may have difficulties with:
- Remembering the names of letters and the sounds they make
- Understanding that words are made up of sounds and that letters stand for those sounds
- Sounding out words correctly and at the right speed
- Spelling words correctly
- Understanding what they read
Children with a writing disorder may have difficulties with:
- Using a pen or pencil
- Remembering how letters are formed
- Copying shapes, drawing lines, or spacing things out correctly
- Organizing and writing their thoughts, feelings, and ideas on paper
- Spelling and punctuation
Children with a math disorder may have difficulties with:
- Recognizing and drawing shapes
- Math concepts such as number values, quantity, and order
- Understanding time, money, and measuring
- Fractions, percentages, geometry, and algebra
Children who have trouble with nonverbal learning skills may have:
- Trouble copying designs and understanding 3-dimensional patterns
- Trouble understanding abstract concepts
- Trouble with math, writing, and reading comprehension
- Problems with social skills and understanding nonverbal cues like body language
- Poor coordination
There is no single cure for LDs, but there are many things that can be done to help children overcome their LDs and live successful lives. Be cautious of people and groups who claim to have simple answers or solutions. You may hear about eye exercises, body movements, special diets, vitamins, and supplements. There is no evidence that these interventions work. If in doubt, talk with your child’s doctor.
Most children with LDs can reach their goals by developing different ways of learning. Special education services for these children may include specialized instruction, non-timed tests, or changes in the classroom that are geared toward your child’s specific learning style. Children with LDs should qualify for an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), which is a written plan developed by teachers and parents which specifies what your child needs.
Ways You Can Help Your Child
- Focus on strengths. Find your child’s strengths and help her learn how to use them. Be sure to praise your child often when she does well or succeeds at a task.
- Develop social and emotional skills. Learning disabilities combined with the challenges of growing up can make your child sad, angry, or withdrawn. Try to find clubs, teams, and other activities that focus on friendship and fun. These activities should also build confidence.
- Plan for the future. Many parents of children with LDs worry about their child’s future. Remind your child that an LD isn’t tied to how smart she is. In fact, many people with LDs are very bright and grow up to be very successful in life. You can help your child plan for adulthood by encouraging her to consider her strengths and interests when making education and career choices. Many colleges have programs designed for children with LDs.
- American Academy of Pediatrics National Center for Medical Home Implementation: www.medicalhomeinfo.org
- Council for Exceptional Children: www.cec.sped.org
- LD Online: www.ldonline.org
- Learning Disabilities Association of America: www.ldanatl.org
- Learning Disabilities Worldwide: www.ldworldwide.org
- National Center for Learning Disabilities: www.ncld.org
- Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services: www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers
- Wrights Law (Information about special education law): www.wrightslaw.org
Adapted from information from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
AAP Feed run on: 9/8/2024 Article information last modified on: 9/8/2024
LEARNING DISABILITIES- INFORMATION FOR PARENTS
If your child is trying his best to learn certain skills but is not able to keep up with his peers, it’s important to find out why. Your child may have a learning disability (or LD).
What is a Learning Disability?
Learning disability is a term used to describe a range of learning problems. These problems have to do with the way the brain receives, uses, stores, and sends out information. As many as 15% of children have a LD. Children with LDs may have trouble with one of the following skills: reading, writing, listening, speaking, reasoning, or math. The most common LD is a reading disorder.
Learning disabilities do not include ADHD, intellectual disability, lack of instruction, or hearing/vision/motor problems. However, some children can have both an LD and one of the diagnoses above. Many children also have more than one LD.
What Causes Learning Disabilities?
The causes aren’t always known, but many children with LDs have a parent or relative with the same or similar learning difficulties. Other risk factors include low birth weight and prematurity, or an injury or illness during childhood (for example, head injury, lead poisoning, or meningitis).
How Do I Know If My Child Has a Learning Disability?
Learning disabilities are not always obvious. However, let your child’s doctor know if your child shows any of the following signs:
Preschool children (who may later have LDs) may have:
- Delays in language development. By 2 ½ years of age, your child should be able to talk in phrases or short sentences.
- Trouble with speech. By 3 years of age, your child should speak well enough so that adults can understand most of what she says.
- Trouble learning colors, shapes, letters, and numbers.
- Trouble rhyming words.
- Trouble with coordination. By 5 years of age, your child should be able to button her clothing, use scissors to cut shapes out of paper, and hop. She should be able to copy a circle, square, or triangle.
- Short attention spans. Between 3 to 5 years of age, your child should be able to sit still and listen to a short story. As your child gets older, she should be able to pay attention for a longer time.
- Follow directions.
- Get and stay organized at home and school
- Understand verbal directions
- Learn facts and remember information
- Read, spell, or sound out words
- Write clearly (may have poor handwriting)
- Do math calculations or word problems
- Focus on and finish schoolwork (may daydream often)
- Explain information clearly with speech or in writing
Children with a reading disorder (also called dyslexia, reading disability, and specific reading disability) may have difficulties with:
- Remembering the names of letters and the sounds they make
- Understanding that words are made up of sounds and that letters stand for those sounds
- Sounding out words correctly and at the right speed
- Spelling words correctly
- Understanding what they read
Children with a writing disorder may have difficulties with:
- Using a pen or pencil
- Remembering how letters are formed
- Copying shapes, drawing lines, or spacing things out correctly
- Organizing and writing their thoughts, feelings, and ideas on paper
- Spelling and punctuation
Children with a math disorder may have difficulties with:
- Recognizing and drawing shapes
- Math concepts such as number values, quantity, and order
- Understanding time, money, and measuring
- Fractions, percentages, geometry, and algebra
Children who have trouble with nonverbal learning skills may have:
- Trouble copying designs and understanding 3-dimensional patterns
- Trouble understanding abstract concepts
- Trouble with math, writing, and reading comprehension
- Problems with social skills and understanding nonverbal cues like body language
- Poor coordination
There is no single cure for LDs, but there are many things that can be done to help children overcome their LDs and live successful lives. Be cautious of people and groups who claim to have simple answers or solutions. You may hear about eye exercises, body movements, special diets, vitamins, and supplements. There is no evidence that these interventions work. If in doubt, talk with your child’s doctor.
Most children with LDs can reach their goals by developing different ways of learning. Special education services for these children may include specialized instruction, non-timed tests, or changes in the classroom that are geared toward your child’s specific learning style. Children with LDs should qualify for an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), which is a written plan developed by teachers and parents which specifies what your child needs.
Ways You Can Help Your Child
- Focus on strengths. Find your child’s strengths and help her learn how to use them. Be sure to praise your child often when she does well or succeeds at a task.
- Develop social and emotional skills. Learning disabilities combined with the challenges of growing up can make your child sad, angry, or withdrawn. Try to find clubs, teams, and other activities that focus on friendship and fun. These activities should also build confidence.
- Plan for the future. Many parents of children with LDs worry about their child’s future. Remind your child that an LD isn’t tied to how smart she is. In fact, many people with LDs are very bright and grow up to be very successful in life. You can help your child plan for adulthood by encouraging her to consider her strengths and interests when making education and career choices. Many colleges have programs designed for children with LDs.
- American Academy of Pediatrics National Center for Medical Home Implementation: www.medicalhomeinfo.org
- Council for Exceptional Children: www.cec.sped.org
- LD Online: www.ldonline.org
- Learning Disabilities Association of America: www.ldanatl.org
- Learning Disabilities Worldwide: www.ldworldwide.org
- National Center for Learning Disabilities: www.ncld.org
- Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services: www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers
- Wrights Law (Information about special education law): www.wrightslaw.org
Adapted from information from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
AAP Feed run on: 9/8/2024 Article information last modified on: 9/8/2024
