Having a learning disability doesn't mean you can't
learn. But you'll need some help and you'll need to work
extra hard. If you have a learning disability, such as dyslexia or
dyscalculia (serious trouble with math), remember that you are
not
slow or dumb.
Learning disabilities happen because of the way a person's
brain takes in and processes information. As a result, people learn
differently. The trick will be figuring out how you learn best.
There are people who know how to do just that. Your parents and
teachers can help you and they can find you a learning specialist
or a school psychologist. These professionals can help figure out
what a kid's learning problem is - and come up with ideas for
how to make it better.
What Are Learning Disabilities?
Learning disabilities aren't contagious, but they can be
genetic
. That means they can be passed down in families through the genes,
like many other traits we get from our parents and grandparents.
Someone with a learning disability probably has other family
members who have had some learning troubles, too.
Kids with learning problems are sometimes surprised to find out
that one of their parents had similar troubles when he or she was
in school. But kids today have an advantage over their parents.
Learning experts now know a lot more about the
brain
and how learning works - and it's easier for kids to get the
help they need.
Dyslexia
(say: dis-
lek
-see-uh) is a learning disability that means a kid has a lot of
trouble reading and writing. Kids who have trouble with math may
have
dyscalculia
(say: dis-
kal
-kyoo-lee-uh). And people who have trouble forming letters when
they write may have
dysgraphia
(say: dis-
graf
-ee-uh). Other kids may have language disorders, meaning they have
trouble understanding language and understanding what they
read.
It can be confusing, though. What qualifies as
"trouble" enough to be diagnosed as a learning
disability? Reading, doing math, and writing letters may be tough
for lots of kids at first. But when those early troubles don't
fade away, and it's really difficult to make any progress,
it's possible the kid has a learning disability.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
is sometimes thought of as a learning disability but it's not
usually considered one. Why? Because most kids with ADHD can learn
in school without special assistance, even though they may be
easily distracted or have trouble sitting still in class. Although
ADHD itself isn't a learning disability, researchers believe
kids with ADHD may be more likely to have learning
disabilities.
How Do I Know if I Have a Learning Disability?
It's very hard for a kid to know if he or she has a learning
disability. But kids don't have to figure all this out on their
own. What a kid needs to do is tell someone. Start with your
teacher and your mom or dad.
Even if you feel a little shy about it, tell them what kinds of
problems you're having in school. Maybe you read a chapter for
homework and then can't remember anything you read. Or in
class, maybe everyone else seems to follow along easily, but you
get stuck and don't know what page everyone is on. You might
open your book to do an assignment and have no idea where to
start.
Kids with a learning disability might also answer
"yes" to many of these questions:
- Do you struggle in school?
- Do you think you should be doing better than you are in
school?
- Is reading harder for you than it should be?
- Does your head think one thing but your hand writes something
else?
- Is writing slow and really hard for you?
- Do you make spelling and other errors when you write?
- Are you having difficulty with math?
- Is it hard for you to keep your notebooks and papers
organized? Do you end up losing or forgetting them?
But even if you say "yes" to some of these questions,
you won't know for sure until you visit a school
psychologist
or a learning specialist. They can give you some tests to spot any
learning problems you might have. They'll also be able to
identify what your strengths are - in other words, what you're
good at! Once a psychologist or learning specialist figures out
what your learning problem is, you both can start working on
solutions.
A kid might work with a tutor or specialist or even go to a
special class. But often, kids with learning disabilities can
continue in their regular classrooms and there's no reason they
can't do normal stuff, like participate in school activities
and sports.
Though some kids might feel shy about having a learning
disability, it can be a relief to finally know what the problem is.
Then, the kid doesn't have to feel as worried and upset about
school - because he or she is learning how to learn in new ways.
The psychologist or learning specialist might even give you a
learning plan - then you can see what the strategy is for helping
you learn. They can even offer help with
organizational skills
. If you're not organized, it's hard to get any schoolwork
done.
What You Can Do About Learning Disabilities
Finding out you have a learning disability can be upsetting. You
might feel different from everyone else. But the truth is that
learning disabilities are pretty common. And if your learning
specialist or psychologist has figured out which one you're
facing, you're on the right track. Now, you can start getting
the help you need to do better in school.
But for this special help to really work, you'll need to
practice the new skills you're learning. It may take a lot of
effort every day. That can be a challenge, but you can do it. Soon,
you'll enjoy the results of all your hard work: more fun and
success at school!
It worked for Paige. Read what she had to say:
Reviewed by:
David V. Sheslow, PhD
Date reviewed: November 2008
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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