Transcript Learning Disabilities

Who are these people?
What do they have in common?
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Alexander Graham Bell
Thomas Edison
Albert Einstein
Leonardo Da Vinci
Winston Churchill
Walt Disney
Agatha Christie
Hans Christian Anderson and…
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Tom Cruise
Cher
Lindsay Wagner
Henry Winkler
Whoopi Goldberg
George Burns
Magic Johnson
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
They all have learning disabilities,
and yet each has overcome
his/her specific challenge in order to be
successful!
• Learning disabilities (LD) are more
common than most people realize;
estimates suggest that as many as 1 in 5
people in North America have a LD
• Many people have some degree of
learning disabilities and are often not
aware of it (they have just learned to cope
with their challenges)
For each of the following points, rate
yourself on a scale of 1 -3 if they relate to
you
1 = never, rarely, only sometimes
2 = frequently, on occasion
3 = usually, typically
Academic Symptoms
• poor performance on group tests
• reversals in reading and writing
• difficulty in copying accurately from a
model
• slowness in completing work
• easily confused by instructions
• difficulty with tasks requiring sequencing
Cognitive Symptoms
* difficulty
discriminating size, shape, color
* difficulty with temporal (time) concepts
* distorted concept of body image
* poor organizational skills
* difficulty with abstract reasoning and/or problem-solving
* disorganized thinking
* often obsesses on one topic or idea
* poor short-term or long-term memory
* delays in development milestones (e.g. motor, language)
Physical Symptoms
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general awkwardness
poor visual-motor coordination
hyperactivity
overly distractible; difficulty concentrating
lack of hand preference or mixed
dominance
Behavioral/Social Symptoms
* impulsive behavior;lack of reflective thought prior to action
* low tolerance for frustration
* excessive movement during sleep
* poor peer relationships
* overly excitable during group play
* poor social judgment
* inappropriate, unselective, & often excessive display of
affection
* behavior often inappropriate for situation
* failure to see consequences for his actions
* overly gullible; easily led by peers
* excessive variation in mood and responsiveness
* poor adjustment to environmental changes
* difficulty making decisions
When considering these symptoms, it is
important to remember that…
l) No one will have all of these symptoms.
2) Among Learning Disabled populations, some symptoms
are more common than others.
3) All people have at least two or three of these
problems to some degree.
4) The number of symptoms seen in a particular child
does not give an indication as to whether the disability is
mild or severe. It is important to consider if the behaviors
are chronic, and appear in clusters.
What are Learning Disabilities?
* The primary characteristic of a learning
disability is a significant difference
between a child's achievement in some
areas, and his or her overall intelligence
* It is considered to be an ‘invisible
disability’
* Disorders affect the ability to:
-understand or use spoken or written
language
-do mathematical calculations
-coordinate movements
- direct attention
• Boys are more commonly identified with a
LD
• The most commonly identified LD is
dyslexia
• They occur in very young children, but the
disorders are usually not recognized until
the child is about 10 years old
(memorization skills are more challenging)
Learning disabilities typically affect five
general areas:
l) Spoken language
- delays, disorders, and deviations in listening and speaking
2) Written language
- difficulties with reading, writing and spelling
3) Arithmetic
- difficulty in performing arithmetic operations or in understanding basic
concepts
4) Reasoning
- difficulty in organizing and integrating thoughts
5) Memory
- difficulty in remembering information and instructions
• Typically children with LD are above
average in intelligence; they often get by
in school by memorization
• Learning disabilities are life-long
challenges; there is no cure!
Types of Learning Disabilities
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
- A condition characterized by impulsivity &
inattentiveness, & occasional hyperactivity
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
(ADHD)
- A condition characterized by hyperactivity,
impulsivity & inattentiveness
Autism
- A behaviour disturbance characterized by
self-stimulation, self-injurious behaviour, or
the absence of speech
Dyslexia
- The inability to read words & sentences, or
other types of representational systems
like clocks or directions
Central Auditory Processing Disorder
(CAP)
- A disorder where the information is taken in
through the ears but is not accurately
processed by the brain (the brain does not
process what is actually heard/said)
Developmental Aphasia
- Poor speech due to problems in
processing language; inability to use
language appropriately by children who
have intact communication systems and
adequate intelligence
Dysnomia
- Difficulty in using words; problems
between storage in the brain and retrieval
from the brain when words are required
Dysgraphia
- The inability to write; problems with fine
motor skills
Dysgraphia
- The inability to identify written symbols of
language
Dyscalcula, or Developmental Arithmetic
Disorder (DAD)
- The inability to do mathematical
calculations
Treatment Options
- specially trained educators may perform a
diagnostic educational evaluation assessing the
child’s academic & intellectual potential and level
of academic performance
- may require special education, or
accommodation in the classroom (assistive
technologies)
- the basic approach is to teach learning skills by
building on the child’s abilities & strengths, while
correcting & compensating for disabilities and
weaknesses
- may involve other professionals such as
Speech and Language Therapists
- psychological therapies may also be used
- some medications may be effective in
helping the child learn by enhancing
attention & concentration
(Ritalin for ADHD)
• An identification of a Learning Disability is
a life-long challenge, but it need not be a
‘life-sentence’.
• Learning strategies can enable someone
with LD to overcome the perceived
limitations, and lead to personal success.