What are learning disabilities?
The term “learning disability” is generally used to identify specific types of problems involving learning skills that affect individuals who are pursuing their education. Although learning disabilities in children are usually identified early on during a child’s elementary school years, they may continue until the child has entered college. The learning skills that are most commonly affected involve doing math, listening, reading, reasoning, speaking, and writing.
Additionally, while one individual may have problems understanding mathematics, another individual may have issues with reading and writing. Then there are individuals who have difficulty in all of these learning areas and may have difficulties understanding what another person is saying. Another issue with learning disabilities in children is that it is oftentimes viewed as laziness or an unwillingness to pay attention to their teachers. In many cases, it is difficult to identify learning disabilities which makes them difficult to diagnose and treat.
How to identify learning disabilities in Children
For the most part, learning difficulties can be treated more effectively provided they are identified early on, hence the importance of identifying learning disabilities in children. Here are some recommendations for recognizing and identifying them:
Look for the signs of developmental skills – there may be problems with reading and speaking or when you ask a question, it may take them a while to answer you. In some cases, a child may not be interested in coloring, reading, or talking at all.
Monitor your child’s emotional levels – sometimes, and for no apparent reason, your child may seem angry, depressed, or sad. They may act out in class, not pay attention, or talk to other children while the teacher is trying to teach. Erratic or strong mood swings may indicate learning disabilities in children as well.
Observe your child’s homework and how they interact while learning – it may seem like they are slow to learn new skills or they may appear to not care about learning anything at times. This typically relates to the child’s imagination, math, playing with building blocks, or reading.
Watch for elevated signs of confusion – misplacing their books, schoolwork, or toys is another one of the signs of learning disabilities in children. As far as their grade level in school is concerned, they may not be able to memorize that well. They may also write letters and numbers backwards as well indicating a the presence of learning disabilities.
Watch for problems with motor skills – in addition to having difficulties putting letters and numbers in order, they may also exhibit signs of organizing their room or their toys. They could be exhibiting problems with coordination such as when they are catching a ball, crawling, or walking.
Tips and warnings
Remember that the younger your child has been diagnosed with learning disabilities, the easier it will be to treat them and see a beneficial outcome. Consult with your child’s pediatrician or your family physician because some of the symptoms could be the cause of additional problems.
