Transcript Does your child have a learning disability?

Does your child have a learning
disability?
What we know about learning disabilities
and how to help children who have
them.
Presented by Denise J. Hanson, Psy.D.
March 9, 2006
This presentation will cover:
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What a learning
disability is
Some common signs of
learning disabilities
Types of learning
disabilities
Causes of learning
disabilities
Basic facts about
learning disabilities
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How learning
disabilities are identified
and diagnosed
What can be done
about learning
disabilities
IDEA 2004
Questions
DEFINITION OF LEARNING
DISABILITY:
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The public school system uses the term “Learning
Disability”. The medical classification system uses
the term “Learning Disorder”. A new term now used
by educators and clinicians is “Learning Difference”
or “Differences in Learning”.
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A learning disability is a neurologically-based
processing disorder resulting from “faulty” wiring in
the cortex. Depending on what part of the cortex is
affected, the student will have problems with
learning, language, and/or motor function.
DEFINITION OF LEARNING
DISABILITY:
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These processing difficulties might involve
understanding or using language, spoken or written,
resulting in an imperfect ability to listen, think,
speak, read, write, spell, or do mathematical
calculations. Individuals with learning disabilities
are of at least average intellectual ability or higher.
They struggle in school because of these
processing problems.
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Learning disabilities might impact learning to read,
write, or do basic math or reading comprehension,
written language, or more complex math.
DEFINITION OF LEARNING
DISABILITIES:
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Learning disabilities might impact the student’s ability to
organize materials and thoughts or to plan a task and carry
out that plan. Thus, some problems are apparent in the
earlier school years; some are not apparent until late
elementary school; and still others show up in middle or high
school. In any grade, the problem is struggling with school
work, possibly with failing grades. (LDA)
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You might hear that homework is a battle every night.
Unfortunately, some teachers and parents blame the victim.
They complain that the student is lazy or unmotivated.
Some common signs of learning
disabilities:
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Reading: problems with syntax or grammar; poor reading
ability or poor comprehension; difficulties with phonics
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Writing: problems with sentence structure, writing
mechanics and organization; may spell the same word
differently in the same paper
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Math: problems with numerical operations, math facts, or
concepts; may reverse numbers
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Language: problems with comprehension of what is said or
may misinterpret language; may respond in an inappropriate
manner, unrelated to what is said; may be able to explain
things orally, but not in writing
Some common signs of learning
disabilities:
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Auditory: may be bothered by different frequencies of
sound; may consistently misunderstand what is being said
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Cognitive: may acquire new skills slowly; may have
difficulties following directions, especially multiple directions
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Motor: may have problems with fine motor skills, such as
holding a pencil; may have poor coordination; not good in
sports
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Memory: may be able to learn information presented in one
way, but not in another; may have difficulties memorizing
Some common signs of learning
disabilities:
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Organization: may have difficulties following a
schedule or being on time; may have trouble
learning about time
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Social: may have difficulties with social skills; may
misinterpret non-verbal social cues; may experience
social isolation
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Attention: may have short attention span or be
impulsive; may be easily distracted; may experience
stress on extended mental effort
Types of learning disabilities:
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Dyslexia: difficulties processing language; difficulties with
reading
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Dyscalculia: difficulties with math concepts and numerical
operations; difficulty learning to count by 2’s, 3’s, 4’s
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Dysgraphia: difficulties with handwriting; written
expression
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Dyspraxia: difficulties with motor coordination; fine motor
skills
Types of learning disabilities:
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Auditory Processing Disorder: difficulties interpreting
auditory information; may impact both language
development and reading
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Nonverbal Learning Disorder: difficulties with nonverbal
cues; social skill deficits; visual-spatial difficulties
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Visual Processing Disorder: difficulties interpreting visual
information; difficulties with copying
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Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: difficulties with
concentration and focus; impulsivity
Causes of learning disabilities:
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New evidence seems to show that most learning
disabilities do not stem from a single, specific
region of the brain, but from difficulties in bringing
together information from various brain regions
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Today, a leading theory is that learning disabilities
stem from subtle disturbances in brain structures
and functions. Some scientists believe, that, in
many cases, the disturbance begins before birth
Learning disabilities may be due to:
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Heredity – often learning disabilities run in the family, so it’s
not uncommon to find that people with LD have parents or
other relatives with similar difficulties – recent research has
found a gene linked to dyslexia
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Problems during pregnancy and birth – LD may be caused
by illness or injury during or before birth. It may also be
caused by drug and alcohol use during pregnancy, low birth
weight, lack of oxygen and premature or prolonged labor
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Incidents after birth – head injuries, nutritional deprivation
and exposure to toxic substances (i.e. lead) can contribute to
LD
Learning disabilities are not caused
by:
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Economic disadvantage
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Environmental factors
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Cultural or differences
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Poor parenting
Basic facts about learning disabilities:
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Nearly 2.9 million students are currently receiving special
education services for LD in the US (2002)
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The majority of all individuals with learning disabilities have
difficulties in the area of reading
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Two-thirds of secondary students with learning disabilities are
reading three or more grade levels behind. 20% are reading
five or more grade levels behind (2003)
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More than 27% of children with learning disabilities drop out of
high school, compared to 11% of the general student
population (2002)
Basic facts about learning disabilities:
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Two-thirds (66%) of high school graduates with learning
disabilities were rated “not qualified” to enter a four-year
college, compared to 37% of non-disabled graduates (1999)
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Research suggests that the prevalence of learning disabilities
in the general population ranges from 2% to 10%. Some
research suggests that the prevalence could be as high as 10%
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ADHD is the most common neurobehavioral disorder of
childhood. ADHD affects an estimated 4% to 12% of 6 – 12
year old children in the US (2005)
How are learning disabilities identified
and diagnosed?
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The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
(IDEA) explicitly prescribes evaluation procedures
for students
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IDEA 2004 has replaced IDEA 1997. IDEA 2004
contains several significant changes, including
new provisions regarding how schools can
determine whether a child has a specific learning
disability (SLD), and may, therefore need special
education services
Diagnosis of LD and Eligibility:
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IDEA 1997 proposed that a discrepancy model
between aptitude and achievement be used
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IDEA 2004 proposes that school districts can
decide to use either a formula that requires a
“severe discrepancy” between achievement and
intellectual ability, or a process that determines if
the child responds to scientific, research-based
intervention as part of the evaluation procedures
North Carolina and IDEA 2004:
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The NC Department of Public Instruction
(NC DPI), Exceptional Children Division
currently has a pilot program operating in 8
school systems that will provide information
to help school systems implement a
“response to intervention” process. This
school year, it is unlikely that any changes in
the method of “labeling” a student as
learning disabled will happen
How are learning disabilities identified
and diagnosed?
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If a parent chooses to have their child
evaluated outside the schools, by a private,
qualified professional, what might they
expect?
Evaluation for LD:
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Tests commonly used
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Aptitude or IQ tests (WAIS III; WISC IV)
Achievement tests (WJ III; WIAT II)
Reading tests (GORT series)
Writing tests (TOWL)
Cost of an LD evaluation:
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Costs vary depending upon the tests used.
Range is usually between $500 - $1500.
This includes a report. Insurance companies
do not pay for educational testing.
What can be done?
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Individual Education Plan (IEP)
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Section 504
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is an anti-discrimination, civil rights statute that
requires the needs of students with disabilities to
be met as adequately as the needs of the nondisabled are met
What can be done?
What can be done?
What can be done?
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Children with learning disabilities have
many strengths. Parents and teachers
need to help children with LD to find and
maximize their strengths
What can be done?
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Instructional strategies in the classroom that meet
the child’s unique learning needs and style
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Accommodations in the classroom, such as
preferential seating and extended time for tests
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Interventions, such as 1: 1 instruction outside the
classroom
What can be done?
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Parents and teachers need to work together
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Clinicians and teachers/educators need to work together
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Parents and teachers need more education about LD and
the short and long term effects of LD in a person’s life
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Parents and teachers need more information about what
they can do to help a child with LD
Tips for parents:
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Help your child find their strengths and/or passion
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Help your child find their “island of competence”
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Help your child accept both his/her strengths and weaknesses
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Explore and make available opportunities for success
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Be careful with how you criticize your child
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Avoid homework wars
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Set realistic goals
Tips for parents:
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Most of all
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Accept your child for who they are
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Don’t blame your child for their learning differences. It is
not their fault
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Let your child be involved. Listen to your child. Be aware
of his/her feelings
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Your child’s self-esteem is very important. Help your child
to have a healthy self-esteem
Questions: