What Are Learning Disabilities?
In this difficult time of Covid where tele-medicine is becoming more accepted I was scheduled to do a consult about possible learning disabilities in an 8-year-old second grader named Justin.
He was one of my regular patients. It was a bit strange seeing mom and Justin sitting at the kitchen table on a computer screen. Nonetheless, mom was worried. She had just talked with a close relative who was a teacher back East about Justin’s school performance. It seems that he still reverses some letters such as “b” and “d” and has trouble writing neatly. The relative worried mom when she intimated that Justin may have a learning disability…hence the urgent phone consult.
I asked mom what she understood by the term learning disabilities. She paused for a while and then responded, “…dyslexia…I think. I’m not really sure.” With that I said, “Lets look at what learning disabilities really are and go from there.”
Learning disabilities are a result of genetic or neurobiological factors that can alter brain function and affect one or more cognitive processes relative to learning. These include basic skills such as reading, writing, and doing math. Also included are higher levels of executive functions such as organizational skills, time management, abstract reasoning and long and short term memory. Most individuals with learning disabilities have normal or above normal intelligence, but there may be a disconnect with school performance and their true cognitive abilities. They underachieve. Learning disabilities cannot be fixed or cured. However with early identification and intervention these individuals can be given the appropriate tools to compensate for these disabilities. There are countless accounts of famous people throughout history who have overcome learning disabilities and have gone on to do phenomenal things. Albert Einstein was not able to read until he was 9-years-old.
The major learning disabilities include:
Dyslexia – is difficulty in reading due to problem identifying speech sounds and learning how they relate to letters and words.
Dyscalculia – is an impairment in one’s ability to learn number related concepts and to be able to perform math calculations and other math skills.
Dysgraphism – refers to problems in writing and may be mechanical such as difficulty in holding and using a pencil as well as problems with written expression and ability to coherently organize thoughts. There are often issues with basic sentence structure.
Non-verbal learning disability – has to do with an inability to socially interact, organize thoughts, read facial cues or body language. There may be problems with abstract thinking and spatial relationships. This condition is thought to stem from involvement of the right side of the brain.
Auditory/or Visual processing problems – these have nothing to do with a person’s ability to see or hear The vision may be 20/20 and the hearing may be perfect, but the issue is HOW the brain breaks down and processes the information it is receiving.
This is a bird’s eye view of the major learning disabilities.
If a student is struggling in school and there are concerns, an educational psychologist can do a battery of tests in order to screen and look for any of these specific disabilities. This is a very lengthy and thorough process and will no doubt also look at possible ADD/ADHD. Once a specific learning disability has been identified the school psychologist can give the tools to compensate and work through this disability. This will often involve the teacher and parents. Some of the compensatory interventions may include extra time for tests and assignments, preferential seating or the ability to take a test in a quiet environment. Also having a “note buddy” who will share class notes, having the child keyboard instead of write by hand, being able to tape lectures instead of hand writing notes, or even having the student verbally give a book report to show what he has learned. Each case is unique and different and the intervention must be individualized. This is where the school psychologist is so vital.
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is the nation’s special education law that provides rights and protection to children with disabilities.
Once a child has been found to have a specific learning disability that qualifies him/her under the IDEA, the school MUST provide special education and related services such as speech and counseling. IDEA covers children from birth until graduating from high school or 21 years of age. There is an early intervention program for children up until 3 years of age.
Once a student has been identified as having a covered disability, they will have an IEP (Individualized Education Plan). This is a legal document that spells out the child’s educational goal with the services and support the school will provide. This is reviewed each year and involves the parent, teacher and school psychologist. In the school year 2017-2018, 7 million children in the United States from the age of 3-21 years received special education. This accounts for 14% of all the children in the public school system.