What
is Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD)?
AD/HD is a neurobiological
disorder that likely affects activity in the parts of the brain
which regulate impulse control and attention. According to the
National Attention Deficit Disorder Association, approximately
4% to 6% of the general population have AD/HD. People with AD/HD
may have difficulty with attention or excessive or excessive activity,
including impulsivity.
What
Causes Learning Disabilities
Understandably,
one of the first questions parents ask when they learn their child
has a learning disorder is "Why? What went wrong?"
Mental health professionals stress that since no one knows what
causes learning disabilities, it doesn't help parents to look
backward to search for possible reasons.
How
Are Learning Disabilities Formally Diagnosed?
By
law, learning disability is defined as a significant gap between
a person's intelligence and the skills the person has achieved
at each age. This means that a severely retarded 10-year-old who
speaks like a 6-year-old probably doesn't have a language or speech
disability. He has mastered language up to the limits of his intelligence.
On the other hand, a fifth grader with an IQ of 100 who can't
write a simple sentence probably does have LD.
What
is Dyscalculia?
Dyscalculia is a learning disability involving
math skills. According to the Journal of Pediatrics, dyscalculia,
which is a lifelong condition, affects about 2% - 6.5% elementary
school age children in the United States.
What
is Dysgraphia?
Dysgraphia is a
neurological disorder that involves writing. It can involve difficulties
with the physical aspects of writing (e.g. awkward pencil grip
or bad handwriting), spelling, or putting thoughts on paper.
What
is Dyslexia?
Reading disabilities
are neurological disorders and occur when an individual's reading
achievement is markedly below the level expected given the person's
intelligence, age, and educational opportunities. This disorder
is not due to a physical disability, such as a visual problem.
Instead, it is a problem in how the brain processes the information
as the individual is reading.
What
Is Dyspraxia?
Dyspraxia is an
underdevelopment of the brain resulting in messages not being
properly transmitted to the body, producing a number of consequences
in physical and cognitive areas. It affects at least 2% of the
population in varying degrees and 70% of those affected are male.
How
Are Learning Disabilities First Identified?
The first step in
solving any problem is realizing there is one. Wallace, sadly,
was a product of his time, when learning disabilities were more
of a mystery and often went unrecognized. Today, professionals
would know how to help Wallace. Dennis and Susan were able to
get help because someone saw the problem and referred them for
help.
Overcoming
Reading Disability
Teachers
and school administrators are the best qualified to determine
the specific curricula and lesson plans appropriate to their students'
needs. The NICHD research has determined, however, that a particular
over all approach to teaching reading offers the greatest chances
of success for overcoming reading difficulties.
What
Are the Types of Learning Disabilities?
"Learning disability"
is not a diagnosis in the same sense as "chickenpox"
or "mumps." Chickenpox and mumps imply a single, known
cause with a predictable set of symptoms. Rather, LD is a broad
term that covers a pool of possible causes, symptoms, treatments,
and outcomes. Partly because learning disabilities can show up
in so many forms, it is difficult to diagnose or to pinpoint the
causes. And no one knows of a pill or remedy that will cure them.
