Learn to tell the signs
S. SOWMYA
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Learning disability is a disorder where the child has difficulty in assimilating information.
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Photo: Rajeev Bhatt
Young minds: Acquire skills to assess, interpret, think critically, analyse.
A toddler is ‘school ready’ when the child can respond appropriately to a school and classroom environment.
Young minds are now expected to acquire skills to assess, interpret, think critically, analyze, make information based decisions and be prepared to take on challenges of ‘real life’. Dysfunction in any of these areas could be classified as
a disability in learning.
Learning disability (LD) is a disorder where the child has difficulty in learning or assimilating information to understand the world around them. LD may be caused due to many reasons — neurological deficit (including abnormal functioning of the brain) or a consequence of maturational delay, foetal development, genetics, biochemical factors and other medical factors such as prolonged hospitalisation or even recurrent ear infections.
Symptoms
Children with learning disability are usually of average or above average intelligence. However, scholastic failure is one of the telling signs of LD since these children, despite being intelligent, are unable to process information in a way that is required for good academic performance. LD can impede a child’s ability to read, write, or compute mathematical problems leading to the medical terms Dyslexia (difficulty with reading), Dysgraphia (difficulty with writing) and Dyscalculia (difficulty with math). Each of these can occur in isolation or in combination with one another.
Educational needs
Children with LD require individual attention and customisation of the classroom curriculum to help address their difficulties.
Special Education employs special instructional methodology (Remedial Instruction), instructional materials, learning-teaching aids, and equipment to meet educational needs of children with specific learning difficulties.
It is essential to not just emphasize the child’s deficit areas but draw out the strengths and learning potential Choose a school which can cater to the child
Opt for clinical set-ups which provide inter-disciplinary solutions where a comprehensive picture of the child is drawn rather than separate bits of significant information
Be an active part of the whole process and most importantly the interest of the child as the main focus.
For more details on the same visit www.childsupport.in
Medical consultation
Children with LD are often put through a routine of consulting doctors and health professionals. Each of them play specific roles in assessing the child.
Paediatrician monitors overall growth and development.
Neurologist identifies any possible damage to brain functions.
Psychiatrist diagnoses and treats any severe behavioural and emotional problems, sometimes using medication.
Clinical psychologist assesses intellectual and emotional functioning.
Educational psychologist assesses learning and behaviour along with evaluating the educational setting.
Special educator assesses the academic skills and learning potential.
Speech and language pathologist assesses speech and language difficulties which is often a significant component of most learning disabilities.
Occupational therapist assesses the motor and visual-motor, cognitive-perceptual, sensory and everyday functional skills.
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