LEARNING DISABILITIES IN CHILDREN

COMMON TYPES OF DISABILITIES IN CHILDREN
1. Reading disabilities or Dyslexics : This involves children who often confuse letters that have similar appearance

2. Dysgraphia: This is a disorder that affects handwriting

3. Dyscalculia: This disorder affects children’s maths skills. Children having difficulties with maths skills.

It should be noted that learning disabilities are often accompanied by Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), which is characterized by hyperactivity, impulsive behaviour, and an inability to concentrate. Most of those with learning disabilities have average or above average intelligence.

Symptoms of Learning disabilities
1. Delayed language skills

2. Trouble rhyming words

3. Habitual mispronunciation

4. Persistent baby talk

5. Difficulty in learning letters and numbers

6. Inability to sound out letters in simple words

7. Confusion involving words that sound alike

8. Difficulty following instructions

What to do if your child seems to have a learning disability
1. Have his hearing and vision tested to rule out those causes

2. Obtain a medical evaluation

3. If disabled, then your child will need emotional support

4. Take note that a learning disability is not related to a child’s intelligence.

5. Take advantage of any special program your child’s school might have such as tutoring

6. Enlist his or her teacher’s cooperation. Perhaps your child could be allowed to sit at the front of the classroom and have more time to complete his assignments.

7. The teacher could give the child both written and oral instructions and let him take exams orally

8. Alternative textbooks could be provided for use at home as learning disabled children are often forgetful and disorganised.

9. A computer with a spell checker could be made available for use in class or for homework

As for Dyslexic children:
1. Have short daily reading sessions with the child

2. Allow the child to read aloud so that you the parent or teacher can have an opportunity to offer feedback and correction

3. First read aloud yourself, having your child follow along

4. Next, read the same text aloud together

5. Then have your child read if by himself

6. Have him use a ruler under each line as he reads

7. Make sure you highlight difficult words

8. This exercise may take only 15 minutes a day.

For Dyscalculia, math skills can be taught in practical ways. For example when measuring quantities in recipes, using a ruler in carpentry, or going shopping. Graph paper and diagrams may be of help in doing math problems.


For handwriting difficulties, try wide-ruled paper and thick pencils. Magnetic letters arranged on a metallic surface may help your child to spell correctly.

There are also useful strategies for dealing with ADHD. Before speaking to a child with an attention disorder, make eye contact. Provide a quiet area for homework, and allow your child to take frequent breaks. Channel his hyperactivity by assigning chores that involve being active such as walking the dog

How to achieve success
1. Build on your child’s strengths, encouraging any ability or talent that he may have.

2. Praise and reward any accomplishment.

3. Break projects down into smaller, more manageable tasks so that he can experience the pride of succeeding.

4. Use pictures or diagrams of the steps he must take in order to complete a project.

Finally, mastering basic reading, writing, and math skills is important for a youth. Be assured that given the proper motivation and assistance, your child can learn. He may just do it differently from others and take a little longer. Discovering your child’s capacity or potentials can actually help him or her to turn a learning disability into an asset.