Learning disabilities can happen to any child. Research has shown that one out of five children has learning disabilities.
Learning disabilities are due to either genetic or neurobiological factors that change how the brain functions.
This affects one or more cognitive processes relates to learning. These processing issues can tamper with basic skills in learning such as reading, writing, or math.
They could also disturb advanced-level skills such as long or short-term memory, reasoning, organization and attention.
It will be important to note that learning disabilities can also affect an individual’s life beyond academics and can influence relationships with family, friends, and even in the workplace.
Learning disabilities should not be interchanged with learning problems. Those lead to the result of disadvantages in visual, hearing, intellectual, emotional or environmental struggles.
Sadly a learning disability cannot be fixed or cured; it persists for a lifetime. Nevertheless, with the right support and intervention, people with learning disabilities challenge can still achieve success in school, working, in relationships, and in the community.
Learning disability stands as an umbrella for describing numerous other learning disabilities. In this post our focus learning disability is Dyslexia.
Dyslexia is a term given to individuals with a learning challenge on how to read. Kids with dyslexia have it hard in breaking down new words, or breaking them down into chunks so they can then sound out.
This makes it difficult with reading, writing, and spelling. They may compensate for the challenge by memorizing words, yet they’ll have trouble identifying new words and may be slow in remembering even familiar ones.
Dyslexia could affect a child socially also. A dyslexia child with a word-finding setback may have trouble with their expressive language.
This causes a social impact, in addition to the difficulties with reading and writing, that make the child not feel so good about themselves.
Kids not yet diagnosed with dyslexia often suffer from low self-esteem because they worry about what is wrong with them, and are often accused of not putting enough effort to learn to read.
5 ways to help kids with dyslexia
Children with dyslexia diagnosis can still learn how to read with different programs or attentive teachers that would care for this segment of children with the challenge
- A multi-sensory instruction in decoding skills will aid in highlighting the words more to the child
- Repetition and review of skills are important so the child gets used to the newly acquired skill
- A small group will aid the child in meeting others like he/her and give more calmness in seeing others that share the same shortcomings
- Teachers will have to enhance decoding skills when handling a child with dyslexia
- Teaching comprehension strategies will help the kids derive meaning from what they’re reading
5 accommodations for kids with dyslexia
Kids that have exhibited dyslexia are eligible for accommodations in school. Which will help in making them feel safe and welcome. These accommodations include:
- Adequate extra time on tests
- Provision of a quiet space to work
- Giving the child the option to record lectures
- Giving the child the option to give verbal, rather than written, answers (when appropriate)
- The child will be allocated exemption from the foreign language learning
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