Share on Pinterest Learning disabilities can vary in severity and some are more common than others. But with the right support and guid...
- Learning difficulties affect the psychological processes involved in learning.
- They can affect how a person learns to read, write, calculate, or learn another learning process.
- The most common learning disability is dyslexia, which affects approximately 80 to 90% of all learning disabilities.
Just before Thanksgiving last year, my daughter's teacher took me aside and suggested that I examine my daughter for learning difficulties. I knew it was going to happen, but it was still a hard blow to hear it.
For a long time I suspected my daughter might have dyslexia, but her teacher was really more worried about how she was doing math. The numbers just didn't make sense to my little girl no matter how hard I tried.
I went home and did some research. I ran a short online assessment that provided answers to questions about my daughter's math skills.
The results showed that he showed strong signs of dyscalculia, a term he had never heard of before, and professional evaluation was recommended.
During my research, I also discovered that learning disabilities can have varying degrees of severity and some are more common than others.
According to Monica Mandell, social worker and educational lawyer at MLM Advocacy , learning disabilities or disabilities are obstacles to the psychological processes associated with learning.
"It can affect the way a person learns to read, write, calculate, or learn other learning processes," he said.
Before going through this with my daughter, I didn't realize there were a variety of possible learning disabilities that a person could live with. (I personally had only heard of dyslexia). However, the Association of Learning Disabilities of America identified several.
Jessica Myszak, PhD, child psychologist and director of the Center for Aid and Healing , explains that there are three commonly diagnosed learning disabilities:
- Dyslexia Symptoms include difficulty reading words accurately.
- Dysgraphy Children have great difficulty expressing themselves in writing. They can sit for hours trying to finish certain sentences, or their writing can be very difficult to read due to lack of spelling.
- Dyscalculia Symptoms include difficulty understanding numbers, storing simple arithmetic data, or being able to argue through word problems.
"The most common learning disability is dyslexia, which affects approximately 80 to 90% of all learning disabilities," said Jill Lauren , MA, learning specialist and author of the book. "It's like me!"
"It is estimated that up to 20% of the population is dyslexic," he said.
My daughter has been working in speech therapy and occupational therapy since she was 2 years old. After I recommended a professional assessment, my first reflex was to call your pediatrician.
She threw the ball into a neuropsychological exam, tests that could give detailed answers on how my daughter's brain works. But he also suggested that we always cross the school district to conduct specific learning assessments.
"Assessments by the school system are free for the student, and an assessment of the school system can help determine whether the student is eligible for special education or housing," said Myszak. ,
Individual educational plans (IEPs) are available for children with learning difficulties. A 504 plan can specify the additional adjustments teachers and school systems need to make.
Based on this written record, I was convinced that we also need assessments in the school system.
However, when I first met the school district, I knew they would not make an accurate diagnosis. They wouldn't even mention the learning difficulties they thought my daughter might have.
Instead, they would simply identify the areas where they struggled and suggest (or provide) tools to overcome these problems.
For this reason, according to Myszak, it is not uncommon for families to run tests and services through the school system and medical providers.
"Medical or private testing can provide children with a medical diagnosis, while school assessments generally do not make a diagnosis, but rather determine the child's suitability for school services," said Myszak.
Some children may not need more. In our case, however, it seemed like the right choice to follow both paths.
I have learned that assessments can also identify hearing or speech processing problems, visual disturbances, and memory or functional problems of a person.
To get the assessments my daughter needed, I first called the school system until they answered me after the vacation.
Then there was a lot of paperwork to fill out, attend meetings, and work out details.
Fortunately, the team assigned to their reviews was great. Friendly, compassionate and very helpful.
But I've heard stories of other families bumping against walls to get the assessments and help them who need them.
The school systems often lack sufficient resources. Although they are required by law to meet these requirements, they do not always have the resources to do it in a timely manner.
And not all families can jump all the tires they need.
An education lawyer can come in handy here.
"Education advocates help families find their way around the school system and understand their rights. The administration of the special school system is complicated and most people do not know the nuances of the system, "said Myszak.
"With a support professional who talks about the process and participates in meetings with them, families can be more certain that their voice is heard and that their children's needs are met," he said.
Myszak adds that families who have a good relationship with their children's school and feel supportive may not need an education advocate.
But it could be worth thinking about families who feel that their children's needs are not being met.
An education attorney can also be an additional resource for families who simply feel overwhelmed or confused by the process.
"As an education attorney, I help families understand what the problem is and how it affects their children at school," said Mandell. "I help them understand what ratings mean and how they can benefit their children."
If you 're considering hiring a parenting lawyer , ucherood.org offers a large list of resources to help you get started.
When I first met the school district, I asked, among other things, what could be done to help if the reviews showed that my daughter actually had a learning disability.
I have been told that there are a variety of learning methods that are best suited for children with learning difficulties and reading groups to participate in. Tutoring and accommodation could be organized in class to have more time for exams.
There have also been various tools to help you better process what you are learning.
"It all depends on the disability and the affected part of the learning process," said Mandell that tutoring and access to reading, math or writing specialists are all possible options. ,
"Families can also get external tutoring or intensive tuition in subjects such as Mathnasium , Kumon or Lindamood-Bell, " added Myszak.
I have spoken to many parents about what we were dealing with in the beginning, hoping that any advice or information that those who have experienced something similar could share.
I was surprised at how many parents wanted to give up the idea of learning disabilities completely.
Some of the people I spoke to said that learning difficulties were exactly how the school system kept children in boxes, or explained why some could not be successful in their system.
That surprised me, especially since research is about learning difficulties
And while some parents believe that their children will eventually catch up, research has found that when learning difficulties arise, the learning gap between children who have them and peers remains without intervention .
"Early intervention is essential," said Lauren. "The longer a parent waits for a child to receive the support they need, the more difficult it will be to make up for the lost time, both academically and emotionally."
Myszak explains that children are generally very aware of how they compare to their peers, and that if they continue to fight, they can develop low self-esteem, anxiety, and depression.
"All parents want the best for their children and may need help to understand that there is a choice between identifying a child with a particular difficulty and accessing interventions and support based on evidence to help them overcome these difficulties Instead of doing nothing and letting the child keep fighting and being left behind, "said Myszak.
I will not lie There were moments during this process when I felt very sad and defeated.
School was always a matter of course for me, and it made my life easier in a thousand different ways. I want the same installation for my daughter. It breaks my heart that I probably have a more difficult path.
"Whenever parents find that their child has a problem that makes certain aspects of school difficult, there is a strong emotion," said Lauren. "Parents are concerned that their children will not reach their potential and that learning difficulties will delay them."
I had to remember that my daughter's brain works in this incredibly creative way that keeps surprising me. She is intelligent, happy and strong.
And he has access to the resources he needs to be the best version of himself.
"With excellent correction and appropriate advice, a student can achieve their potential," said Lauren.
And when I look at my daughter and see that she is ready to overcome that too ... I know it's true.
