4 Signs Your Child Might Have a Learning Disability
According to the National Center for Learning Disabilities, neurological differences affecting learning impact one in five American kids during their childhood and young adulthood, and many of them are both lifelong and hereditary. The most common ones that affect children of school age are dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dyspraxia, which are difficulties affecting reading, math, and body control. Also often grouped with learning disabilities are neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). All of these can be accommodated in schools, but acquiring an early learning disability assessment is vital.
1. Delayed Talking and Clumsiness
Delayed talking and clumsy body movements can be indicators of dyspraxiaor autism. When children show these signs, they can usually be found in preschool years and should be addressed promptly.
2. Mental Math Is A Problem
In children with ADHD, doing transformations of numbers in the head is difficult. With dyscalculia, the concept of math itself is difficult for the brain. In both, a learning disability assessment will be needed to find out why the child struggles and what will help.
3. Short Attention Span
Many parents and educators will see a short attention span and immediately assume ADHD, but this can be more complicated than it looks at first. A learning disability assessment is vital to find out what causes the short attention span. Attention span is a product of executive function, the tools the brain uses to engage in and execute tasks.
4. Find the “Twice-Exceptional”
An important distinction within these categories are children who are called “twice exceptional.” These are children who have both a learning or neurodevelopmental disability and high native intelligence. Twice-exceptional children will often find school easy for them in their early years and may be able to mask their learning deficits by using their talents to compensate. Identifying these children and accommodating them is important for their future well-being.
Learning disability stigma can cause children to suffer in silence for far longer than they have to. Finding out that your child lives with a disability can be hard. It can be even more challenging when your child’s diagnosis causes you to re-evaluate your own life and realize that you may have the same disability. If you or your children need help, Elements Psychological Services LLC is here for therapy and assessment. Help is within reach.
