Learning Problems

Learning Disorders Learning disabilities are problems that affect the brain's ability to receive, process, analyze, or store information. These problems can make it difficult for a student to learn as quickly as someone who isn't affected by learning disabilities. For someone diagnosed with a learning disability, it can seem scary at first. But a learning disorder doesn't have anything to do with a person's intelligence — kids with learning disabilities aren’t lazy or dumb. In fact, most are just as smart as everyone else. Their brains are simply wired differently. After all, successful people such as Walt Disney, Alexander Graham Bell, and Winston Churchill all had learning disabilities.

Signs and symptoms of learning disabilities Preschool (4-5 years old) Problems pronouncing words Trouble finding the right word Difficulty rhyming Trouble learning the alphabet, numbers, colors, shapes, days of the week Difficulty following directions or learning routines Difficulty controlling crayons, pencils, and scissors or coloring within the lines Trouble with buttons, zippers, snaps, learning to tie shoes Grades K-4 (5-10 years old) Trouble learning the connection between letters and sounds Unable to blend sounds to make words Confuses basic words when reading Consistently misspells words and makes frequent reading errors Trouble learning basic math concepts Difficulty telling time and remembering sequences Slow to learn new skills Grades 5-8 (10-14 years old) Difficulty with reading comprehension or math skills Trouble with open-ended test questions and word problems Dislikes reading and writing; avoids reading aloud Spells the same word differently in a single document Poor organizational skills (bedroom, homework, desk is messy and disorganized) Trouble following classroom discussions and expressing thoughts aloud Signs and symptoms of learning disabilities It’s not always easy to identify learning disabilities. Because of the wide variations, there is no single symptom or profile that you can look to as proof of a problem. However, some warning signs are more common than others at different ages.

Types of learning disorders Reading disorder (dyslexia) Writing disorder (dysgraphia) Math disability (dyscalculia) Dyspraxia (Sensory Integration Disorder) Dysphasia/ Aphasia Auditory Processing Disorder Visual Processing Disorder Types of learning disorders There are many kinds of learning disabilities. Most students affected by them have more than one kind

Common Types of Learning Disabilities Dyslexia Difficulty reading Problems reading, writing, spelling, speaking Dyscalculia Difficulty with math Problems doing math problems, understanding time, using money Dysgraphia  Difficulty with writing Problems with handwriting, spelling, organizing ideas Dyspraxia (Sensory Integration Disorder) Difficulty with fine motor skills Problems with hand–eye coordination, balance, manual dexterity Dysphasia/Aphasia Difficulty with language Problems understanding spoken language, poor reading comprehension Auditory Processing Disorder Difficulty hearing differences between sounds Problems with reading, comprehension, language Visual Processing Disorder Difficulty interpreting visual information Problems with reading, math, maps, charts, symbols, pictures

Dyslexia Dyslexia can affect people differently. Some with dyslexia can have trouble with reading and spelling, while others struggle to write, or to tell left from right. Some children show few signs of difficulty with early reading and writing. But later on, they may have trouble with complex language skills, such as grammar, reading comprehension, and more in-depth writing. Dyslexia can also make it difficult for people to express themselves clearly. It can be hard for them to use vocabulary and to structure their thoughts during conversation. Others struggle to understand when people speak to them. This isn't due to hearing problems. Instead, it's from trouble processing verbal information. It becomes even harder with abstract thoughts and non-literal language, such as jokes and proverbs.

Learning styles for people with dyslexia Learning should be structured and multisensory (use  sight, sound, and touch) Practice till automatic (people with dyslexia have short-term memory difficulties) Work on one problem at a time. Use right brain skills: like imagination, patterns, colour and visualisation to augment learning. Make sure there is nothing disturbing in the room you are studying in - dyslexics need to concentrate much more than other students Use technology e.g. spelling dictionaries, movies, computer programs

Dysgraphia Dysgraphia makes the act of writing difficult. It can lead to problems with spelling, poor handwriting, and putting thoughts on paper. People with dysgraphia can have trouble organizing letters, numbers, and words on a line or page. What Can Help? Use paper with raised lines for a sensory guide to staying within the lines. Try different pens and pencils to find one that's most comfortable. Begin writing assignments creatively with drawing, or speaking ideas into a tape recorder Create a step-by-step plan that breaks writing assignments into small tasks When organizing writing projects, create a list of keywords that will be useful

Dyscalculia What Can Help? Use graph paper for students who have difficulty organizing ideas on paper. Work on finding different ways to approach math facts. Introduce new skills beginning with concrete examples and later moving to more abstract applications. For language difficulties, explain ideas and problems clearly and encourage students to ask questions as they work. Provide a place to work with few distractions and have pencils, erasers and other tools on hand as needed. Dyscalculia refers to a wide range of lifelong learning disabilities involving math. There is no single type of math disability. Dyscalculia can vary from person to person. And, it can affect people differently at different stages of life.  Two major areas of weakness can contribute to math learning disabilities:   Visual-spatial difficulties, which result in a person having trouble processing what the eye sees Language processing difficulties, which result in a person having trouble processing and making sense of what the ear hears

ADHD/ADD ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) is a medical condition that affects how well someone can sit still, focus, and pay attention. People with ADHD have differences in the parts of their brains that control attention and activity. This means that they may have trouble focusing on certain tasks and subjects, or they may seem "wired," act impulsively, and get into trouble. Sometimes the symptoms of ADHD become less severe as a person grows older. For example, experts believe that the hyperactivity part of the disorder can diminish with age, although the problems with organization and attention often remain. Although some people may "grow out of" their symptoms, more than half of all kids who have ADHD will continue to show signs of the condition as young adults. No one knows exactly what causes ADHD. It runs in families, so genetics may be a factor. ADD (attention deficit disorder) is a type of ADHD that doesn't involve hyperactivity.

Bibliography http://www.helpguide.org http://www.nlm.nih.gov http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Learning_disability#Types_of_learning_disabilities http://kidshealth.org http://www.ncld.org

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