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Are Learning Disabilities Common?
Today, approximately 2.4 million school-aged children in the U.S. are identified as having specific learning disabilities (SLD) and receive some kind of special education support.1 These numbers do not include children in private and religious schools or those who are home-schooled.
What Can You Do About Learning Disabilities?
Learning disabilities are lifelong challenges. Although they don't go away, they should not stop individuals from from achieving their goals. A learning disability is not a disease, and there is no single course of treatment or intervention that works for everyone. The first step to overcoming the challenges posed by LD is to recognize that a problem might exist. Then seek help from qualified professionals, who can provide guidance through a personalized evaluation process. Working with a trusted team of professionals, it is then possible to identify the types of accommodations, services and supports that will lead to success.
Identification
The LD identification process is not set in stone and will vary from state to state (for school age children) and from one adult to another depending upon the nature of the presenting difficulties and the professionals enlisted to provide testing and guidance. For example, an elementary school age child who shows signs of dyslexia (specific LD in reading) might demonstrate excellent skills in math, so an evaluation would be tailored to better understand the specific components of reading (i.e., phonemic awareness, comprehension, automaticity) that would help with planning an appropriate course of instruction and intervention.
If a parent suspects that their child might have a learning disability, it is important that they record (in writing) their observations and share them with , teachers, physicians andothers who might be able to confirm or add important detail. If informal efforts to help the child overcome these difficulties is not successful (over a short period of time the next step is to initiate (in writing) a request to begin a formal evaluation process.
LD In Children
Early identification – the earlier, the better – is vital in helping a child to succeed academically and socially. Careful and honest observation is a key to understanding how well a child is progressing in their development of skills in important areas such as expressive and receptive language, fine and gross motor coordination, attention, and socializationEven preschoolers can show signs of risk for LD. And for some children, LD does not present itself until middle school or even high school.
Do you think your child is displaying signs of a learning disability? Don't panic. Not all children who are slow to develop skills have LD., Share your concerns with classroom teachers and others who come in contact with your child. And don’t shy away from seeking more detail information and assistance. There is no shame in having a learning disability. The shame is knowing that there is a problem and not providing the help a child needs and deserves.
Once a child is found to have a learning disability, learn as much as possible about the types of supports that are available through school and in the community. Just as important, help the child to understand their specific challenges, assure them that LD is not an insurmountable hurdle and that they are not alone: other children struggle, too, and adults are there to help.
