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About Learning Differences

How do I know if my child may have a Learning Difference?

Dyslexia is a common condition that causes a person difficulty with reading and working with language. 

7 Signs of Dyslexia:

1. Difficulty producing speech sounds throughout early grades
2. Trouble with rhyming and mis-sequencing syllables when speaking
3. Poor spelling and writing skills
4. Overwhelmed by multiple tasks
5. May show frustration with school
6. Slow and laborious, and/or inaccurate, reading
7. Avoiding reading activities altogether
Dysgraphia is a term that refers to trouble with writing, particularly with skills such as handwriting, typing, and spelling.
Dyscalculia is another common learning difference that makes it hard to complete everyday tasks that involve math. 

7 Myths about Learning Differences: 

MYTH 1: A student can grow out of their LD diagnosis.
MYTH 2: Dyslexia is a visual problem that causes the individual to see words backward.
MYTH 3: Struggling to read makes a student incapable of being successful in other subject areas.
MYTH 4: Even if you screen for reading impairments as early as Pre-K, you won't be able to intervene that early anyway.
MYTH 5: Students with an LD will not be as successful as their peers.
 

Tips for helping your child succeed: 

  1. Get a formal evaluation that will identify your child's specific learning differences.
  2. At home, use multi-sensory activities to practice counting, labeling the parts of speech, and learning letter names and sounds. Visit www.Understood.org for suggestions.
  3. Select books for your student that are at the correct reading level, and utilize assistive technology such as Learning Ally audiobooks.
  4. Point out what your student is doing right, as positive reinforcement.
  5. Assist your child with executive functioning skills by helping them get organized: Planners for school work, color-coded folders, noice reduction items such as headphones, and visual checklists.
 
Students with an LD may also have ADHD. ADHD is one of the most common developmental problems characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. 
Definitions are sourced from Understood.org.
 

 

Frequently Asked Questions