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Learning Disability: Accepting your child is not smart isn’t always the best option
By Dr Zulfikar Bux
Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine
Growing up we were always taught that you are either bright or you’re not. Children that were not
Dr Zulfikar Bux
performing well in school were often left with a stigma of being an underperformer and were sometimes given non-academic career paths. As medicine has advanced, they have found that some children that are underperforming in school are smart, but have a learning disability.
WHAT ARE LEARNING DISABILITIES?
Learning disabilities are problems that cause a child to have trouble learning. For example, a child might have problems learning to read, write, or do math. Learning disabilities do not have anything to do with how smart a child is. Children with learning disabilities can be just as smart as or smarter than other children their age. But they have brain differences that make it hard for them to learn, remember, and use information.
WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF LEARNING DISABILITIES?
Identifying a learning disability can be difficult. Your child might have a learning disability if he or she:
· Experiences a delay in achieving a developmental milestone, while most other aspects of his or her development are normal
· Has difficulty understanding and following instructions
· Has trouble remembering what someone just told him or her
· Lacks coordination in walking, sports or skills such as holding a pencil
· Easily loses or misplaces homework, school books or other items
· Has difficulty understanding the concept of time
· Resists doing homework or activities that involve reading, writing or math, or consistently can’t complete homework assignments without significant help
· Acts out or shows defiance, hostility or excessive emotional reactions at school or while doing academic activities, such as homework or reading
WHAT CAUSES LEARNING DISABILITIES?
Factors that might influence the development of learning disabilities include:
· Genetics. Some learning disorders, such as reading and math disorders, are hereditary (inherited).
· Medical conditions. Poor growth in the uterus (severe intrauterine growth restriction), exposure to alcohol or drugs before being born, and low birth weight are risk factors that have been linked with learning disorders. Head injuries might also play a role in the development of learning disorders.
· Environmental exposure. Exposure to high levels of lead has been linked to an increased risk of learning disorders. Also a stressful or abusive environment may lead to withdrawal from learning.
TREATMENT OPTIONS
If your child has a learning disability, your child’s doctor might recommend:
· Extra help. A reading specialist, math tutor or other trained professional can teach your child techniques to improve his or her academic skills. Tutors can also teach children organizational and study skills.
· Individualized education program (IEP). This is done in developed countries where individualized plans are developed in the schools to meet the needs of each specific child with a learning disability.
· Therapy. Depending on the learning disorder, some children might benefit from therapy. For example, speech therapy can help children who have language disabilities. Occupational therapy might help improve the motor skills of a child who has writing problems. Children who have fear due to pressures at home or school may benefit from counseling.
· Medication. Your child’s doctor might recommend medication to lessen the toll of a learning disorder. If your child has depression or severe anxiety, certain medications might help. Talk to your child’s doctor about the risks and benefits.
· Complementary and alternative medicine. Some research shows that complementary and alternative treatments, such as cognitive therapy, can benefit children who have learning disorders. Further research is needed, however.
Not performing well in school doesn’t mean a child is not smart. Parents need to understand this important concept and recognize signs of learning disabilities in their children and seek help. Providing the correct environment is a vital component in boosting your child’s learning abilities.
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