Learning Disabilities In Your Child
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A learning disability can take many different forms, but it is usually some type of neurological disorder. In other words, the afflicted person's brain works just a bit differently than others. Children with a learning disability may be every bit as smart or even smarter than their peers in many respects, but they may have trouble with reading, writing, reasoning, organizing thoughts, or even have difficulty figuring things out by themselves if their education is given by conventional methods.
Learning disabilities can typically not be "cured" as a doctor may cure a sore throat or broken arm, but they can be treated and compensated for in such a way that the effects of the learning disability are minimized. If the diagnosis is made early and the child receives the kind of support and intervention required, they can succeed academically and there is nothing to prevent them from going on to lead successful and often even distinguished careers later in their lives.
It is estimated that about 15 percent of the population is affected with some type of learning disability. Although it does not need to, this sometimes has a profound impact on the child as well as the family of the affected child. The key for parents is to understand the affected child's strengths and work with them on the weaknesses. This is crucial, since many parents leave this aspect of "remedy" up to the schools, and take no responsibility for it themselves. The parents of a child who are unwilling to work with the child to overcome a learning disability will have a child with a learning disability forever. Rather, the effects of that learning disability can be minimized if the parents form a TEAM with the profesionals at the child's school to help the child with the weak areas of their development.
There are many different types of learning disabilities, but some of the more commonly known ones include:
1. Dyslexia. This type of learning disability is language-based where the child has difficulty understanding the written word. It may on occasions be referred to as a reading disability or reading disorder.
2. Dyscalculia. This is a mathematical disability where the child suffering from it will have difficulty solving arithmetic problems and grasping mathematical concepts.
3. Dysgraphia. This is a handwriting disability and the person who suffers from this will find it hard to form letters or writh within a defined space. This is sometimes associated with underdeveloped motor skills.
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