LEARNING DISABILITIES IN CHILDREN
Learning disabilities in children are usually caused by neurobiological and or genetic factors that may affect the normal functionality of the brain. This may make it hard for the children to process information related to learning well. This condition may make it hard for them to learn basic things such as writing, reading, understanding, abstract reading, time planning and organization. Learning disabilities affect not only the academics of the child but also impact their family and social relationships. Learning disabilities do not mean the child is lazy or weak, it is not a mental or physical illness either. There is no single cause of learning disabilities, it is caused by various factors such as; comorbidity, hereditary, illness as an infant, environmental factors and many others.
If you are having concerns about your child, here are a few symptoms to look out for;
- Inability or difficulty recognizing shapes and patterns.
- Difficulty understanding time.
-Inability to differentiate between left and right.
-Difficulty with hand tasks such as drawing, painting or writing.
-Difficulty remembering what he/she just learnt or read.
-Inability to stay organized or follow simple learning instructions.
-Difficulty connecting letters to sound.
-Inability to recognize letters from the alphabet.
-Difficulty concentrating on a task.
-Difficulty with hand to eye coordination, such as calculating speed or distance which ultimately leads to accidents.
-Inability to understand non-verbal communication such as body language.
- Poor memory.
-Difficulty adjusting to a new environment.
TYPES OF LEARNING DISABILITIES INCLUDE;
1. DYSCALCULIA: This is a specific type of learning disability, that affects the child's ability to properly understand maths or numbers effectively.
2. DYSLEXIA: This learning disability specifically affects the child's language processing skills and writing. It makes it hard for the child to acquire and process the language involved in the learning process, making it almost impossible for the child to be proficient in writing, reading and spelling.
3. DYSGRAPHIA: This learning disability affects the child's fine motor skills and handwriting. This disability is mainly characterized by the child's very poor handwriting. Writing becomes a very difficult chore which may take a great deal of concentration and effort from the child to complete a written task.
4. DYSPRAXIA: This disorder affects the child's ability with coordination, speech, movement and language.
5. ADHD: Which is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. This is a disorder that affects the child's ability to control behaviour, stay focused or pay attention to things. It is a disorder in which the symptom is persistent inattention to things. The child becomes forgetful, easily distracted, disorganized, restless and hyper.
Identifying a learning disability is a difficult and complex process that should be done only by professionals. It is not enough to know for a fact that a child has a learning disability, you must seek to know which of the learning disability. Learning disabilities cannot be cured. They can however be managed successfully, Early detection can help the child not just from therapy but also save the child from the stigma that may be associated with ignorance of the disorder.
