Learning Disability (LD)
Learning Disability is an individual’s academic under achievement in reading, writing and mathematics despite the presence of average to above average intelligence, appropriate instruction, regular school attendance and favorable environment. Approximately 10% – 12% children are estimated to have specific learning problems out of which 4.6% of school aged children are identified severely disabled. LD is more in boys than girls with a ratio of 4:1.
Characteristics of a child with Learning Disabilities (LD)
- He/she is intelligent but fails at school.
- Writes ‘on’ for ‘no’, ‘was’ for ‘saw’, ‘14’ as ‘41’.
- Hears the barking of a dog at distance but does not hear what the teachers say.
- Remembers the sequence of TV serials or cartoons but does not remember mathematical tables.
- Confusions about yesterday, today and tomorrow.
- Mood swings.
- Disorganized ad lazy.
- Poor time management.
- Enthusiastic about finishing particular task in academics but it comes out all wrong.
- Omits, add or skip words while reading.
- Do mathematical calculations in his/her mind but cannot put down on paper.
- Unable to sustain attention on a given task for a specific duration of time.
- Calls himself stupid or idiot.
Causes of LD
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- Prenatal factors- malnutrition, brain injuries, prolonged labour, accidents, anoxia, bleeding, toxemia, pre maturity and low birth weight.
- Postnatal factors- neurological damage, seizures, chronic ear infections and encephalitis or meningitis.
- Genetic factors
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- Biochemical factors- hypoglycemia, hypothyroidism, serotonin/dopamine variations.
- Psychological factors- mental illness
- Nutritional deficiencies
Types of LD
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Dyslexia (Reading Disability)
Dyslexia is a Greek word, ‘Dys’ means difficulty and ‘lexia’ means words i.e. difficulty with words or language. Children with reading disability have difficulties in reading skills that are unexpected in relation to age, cognitive ability, quantity and quality of instruction and intervention.
Signs of dyslexia:
- Reversal of letters; words and sometimes entire sentence.
- Sounds are confused [empty- entry].
- Concepts are reversed [floor for ceiling; cake for bread]
- Reading rate is low
- Omission of letters, syllables, words or word endings.
- Addition of sounds or words in sentences (ischool / school).
- Substitution of words / letter (home / house, ise cream / ice cream.
- Mispronouncing words / letter (joo / zoo).
- Transposing of order of words in a sentence.
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Dysgraphia (Writing Disability)
Dysgraphia is a learning disability that causes individuals to experience difficulty when expressing their thoughts in writing and graphing. Students with dysgraphia have strong verbal skills but poor writing skills, random punctuations and spelling errors, illegible writing, unfinished words or letters, cramped or unusual grip, labored copying or writing or inconsistencies within the writing (print/cursive, upper/lower case).
Signs of Dysgraphia:
- Odd wrist, body and paper position.
- Poor organization on the page
- Mixture of print and cursive, upper and lower case or irregular size, shape or slant of letters.
- Inconsistent space between words and letters.
- Excessive erasures.
- Decreased speed of writing / copying / inattentiveness about details when writing.
- Holding the writing instrument very close to the paper.
- Cramped or unusual grip and writing from the wrist.
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Dyscalculia (Math Disability)
Dyscalculia is specific learning disability involving innate difficulty in learning or comprehending simple arithmetic. It includes how to manipulate numbers, difficulty in understanding numbers, learning math’s facts and a number of other related symptoms.
Signs of Dyscalculia:
- Difficulties in relating the number of objects to its symbol, written or verbal.
- Difficulty in pointing to small /big, more / less, tall / short when asked.
- Difficulty to show that parts put together make a whole.
- Difficulty in arranging / grouping objects by size / shape / color.
- Reversal of numbers (45 for 54, 503 for 305)
- Difficulty in copying numbers.
- Difficulty in understanding concepts of units/tens/hundred in numbers
- Difficulty in making judgment and reasoning.
Identification of LD
Children with signs of learning disabilities need to consult a trained Psychologist / Clinical psychologist for the assessment of specific learning disabilities. They used standardized psychometric tests to confirm LD. Intelligence tests and learning disability assessment tools are used to find whether the child is learning disabled or not.
Treatment
A multi-disciplinary team including Psychologist, Special educator, Occupational therapist, Speech therapist, Child Psychiatrist, Teachers and parents works in coordination make significant contribution in dealing with problems of children with LD.
Specific intervention strategies are used to help the students to achieve success in the areas of reading, writing, and math.
Screening Checklist for Learning Disabilities
Read the items listed carefully and put for yes or X for No‟ against each item:
Oral expression
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Written expression
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Hand writing
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Spelling
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Basic reading skills
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Reading comprehension
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Mathematical calculations and Problem solving
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Organizational and study skills
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Attention and concentration
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Fine and gross motor skills
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Visual, auditory and tactile perception
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Social skills
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