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Understanding Learning
Disabilities in Children
by
Morayo Jimoh Phd, CPsychol
Chrisland School, VGC
1st February 2013
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What is Learning Disability (LD)
• Learning Disability is a neurological
disorder that affects the brain’s ability to
receive, process, respond to information,
store and retrieve information.
• LD may be mild, moderate or severe
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What is Learning Disability (contd.)
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LD can affect a person’s ability in these areas
Listening
Speaking
Reading
Writing
Spelling
Reasoning
Mathematics
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Types of Learning Disability
• Dyslexia
• Dysgraphia
• Dyspraxia
• Dyscalculia
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Dyslexia
• Dyslexia is an inherited condition that makes it
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extremely difficult to read, write, and spell in
your native language despite at least average
intelligence.
Dyslexia is a neurological-based, often familial
disorder which interferes with acquisition and
processing of language (International Dyslexia
Association)
It is manifested in receptive and expressive
language, reading, writing and spelling.
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Dyslexia contd.
• Dyslexia is not the result of lack of
motivation, inadequate instructional or
environmental opportunities, or other
limiting conditions, but may occur
together with these condition.
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Warning signs of Dyslexia
(No two people with dyslexia are
exactly alike)
• Delayed speech: Not speaking any word by the first birthday. Often,
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They don’t start talking until they 2, 3 or even older;
Mixing up multi-syllabic words for example aminal for animal,
bisgetti for spagetti;
Lots of ear infection;
Can’t master tying shoes;
Confusion over left versus right; before versus after; over versus
under;
Late to establish a dominant hand;
Difficulty learning names of letters and sounds in the alphabet;
Difficulty writing alphabet in order;
Trouble articulating R’s and L’s as well as M’s and N’s. They may still
be saying “wed” instead of “red” and “gween” instead of “green”.
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Dyslexia sign contd.
• Can read a word on one page, but won’t
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recognise it on the next page;
Becomes tired after reading a short time;
Substitutes similar looking words for example
house for horse, while for white.
Their spelling is far worse than their reading;
Misspells even when copying from the board or
from a book;
Numerous erasures and cross outs
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Causes of Dsylexia
• Dyslexia is an inherited condition
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Research results on Dyslexia
• Dyslexia affects at 1 out of every 5 children (United
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States).
Dyslexia represents the most common and prevalent of
all know learning Disablities
Early intervention is essential for this population
Dyslexia is identifiable , with 92% accuracy, at ages 51/2
to 6 1/2/.
Children do not outgrow reading failure or dyslexia
Dyslexia and ADD/ADHD are two separate and
identifiable entities.
Dyslexia and ADD?ADHD so frequently coexist in the
same child that it is always best to test for both.
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Research results for Dyslexia contd.
• Children with both dyslexia and
ADD/ADHD are at dramatically increased
risk for substance abuse and felony
convictions if they do not receive
appropriate interventions (NIH, 1994)
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Dysgraphia
• Dysgraphia is a learning disability that
affects writing.
• It can lead to poor handwriting, problem
with spelling, and putting thoughts on
paper.
• People with dysgraphia might have trouble
organizing letters, numbers and words on
a line.
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Causes of Dysgraphia
• Brain damage
• Physical illness or deformity
• Intentionally poor penmanship
• No or inadequate instruction
• Disorientation
• Multiple mental images
• Inadequate natural orientation.
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Signs of Dysgraphia
• Has trouble with buttons and zippers;
• Trouble lacing shoes;
• Has trouble connecting dots;
• Has strong verbal skills;
• Doesn’t like lego or other small blocks
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Dyspraxia
• Dyspraxia is a disorder that affects motor skill
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development.
People with dyspraxia have trouble planning and
completing fine motor tasks.
Examples waving good bye and brushing of
teeth.
It is not a learning disability but often coexist
with other LDs and conditions that impact
learning.
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Signs and symptoms of dyspraxia
The child may take very longer than other
children to:
• Sit
• Crawl
• Walk
• Speak
• Stand
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Signs of dyspraxia contd
• Build up vocabulary
• Speak in articulate manner
• Difficulties with concentration
• Does not follow instructions
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General causes of LD
• Genetics
• Factors in pregnancy e.g. drug and alcohol
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consumption;
Factors during delivery e.g. trauma during
delivery;
Early childhood factors e.g. seizures, infection of
the cns;
Brain trauma or tumours
Idiopathy
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Disorder that can make learning
difficult
• ADD/ADHD
• Anxiety Disorder
• Childhood depression
• Autism
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ADD/ADHD
• ADHD is a neurobehavioral disorder
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characterized by significant difficulties of
attention or hyperactivity and impulsiveness or a
combination of the two.
It is the most commonly studied and research
psychiatric disorder in children.
It affects 3 to 5 percent of children globally.
Children with ADHD have problem sitting still,
staying focused, following instructions, staying
organised and completing homework.
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Types of ADHD (3 types)
• ADHD combined type (both inattention
and hyperactivity-impulsivity symptoms);
• ADHD predominantly inattentive type (
inattention and at least 6 out of 9
hyperactivity impulsivity symptom);
• ADHD predominantly hyperactiveimpulsivity type.
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Anxiety Disorder in children
• Anxiety disorders are considered to be on
of the most common psychiatric disorders
affecting children and adolescents.
• Studies have indicated that fewer than
20% receive treatment.
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Consequences of Anxiety Disorders
• School absences
• Impaired relations with peers
• Poor self esteem
• Alcohol and drug use
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Childhood depression
• It is often hard to identify depression in
children because it often mimics the
following disorders:
• Inattention;
• Impulsivity;
• Aggression; and
• Learning problem
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Signs and symptoms of childhood
depression
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Easily comes to tears, feeling sad
Feeling worthless
Irritable and often in a bad mood
Increased in aggressive behaviours
Difficulty staying still
Decreased energy and easily fatigued
Decrease in academic performance
Changes in eating behaviour
Changes in sleep behaviour
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Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)
• ASD are brain based disorders that affect a
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person’s behaviour, as well as social and
communication skills.
Children with Autism can have trouble in the
following area:
Communicating;
Reading body language;
Learning basic skills;
Making eye contact; and
Making friends
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Assessment and Diagnosis
• Diagnosing a learning disability is not so
easy.
• It is a process.
• It involves testing, history taking, and
observation by a trained specialist.
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Types of specialists who may be
able to diagnose learning disability
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Child & Educational psychologists
Neuropsychologists
Child psychiatrists
Developmental psychologists
Clinical psychologists
Psychometrists
Occupational therapist (test sensory disorders
that can lead to learning problem)
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Solutions
• Assessment and diagnosis
• Treatment
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Assessment and Diagnosis contd.
• Sometimes several professional coordinate
themselves as a team to obtain an
accurate diagnosis.
• Recommendations can then be made for
special education.
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Treatment
• Neuropsychological therapy (CBT)
• Biofeedback
• Neurofeedback
• Medications ( Ritalin & other
antipsychotics are being currently used to
treat AD/HD)
• Other brain based therapies
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Tips on how parents can help their
children with LD
• Learn the specifics about your child’s
learning disability;
• Research treatment, services and new
theories;
• Pursue treatment and services at home;
• Nurture your child’s strength.
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Tips for schools on LDs
• Schools should not wait too long before
they send children suspected for LDs for
proper evaluation by professionals.
• It may seem that many children are not
evaluated properly and by that time there
are major gaps in their learning and
acquisition.
• Early intervention is always the best.
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• Children with learning disabilities
can, and do, succeed
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Questions
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For more information
• www.mobilehealthconsult.com
• www.dyslexia.com
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