Learning disabilities/ പഠന വൈകല്യം

WHAT IS LEARNING DISABILITY

Major yet under recognized which have various underlying causes like Physical, Emotional, Conduct, ADHD, Delayed Milestones (MR) and several environmental causes.

Learning needs attention, concentration and academic skills. Learning disability affects academic skills of reading, writing, spelling, maths, language and social skills.

LEARNING DISABILITY – FEATURES

·        Intensity ranges – mild to severe.

·        Combination of academic skills deficit also vary.

·        It is a brain disorder or neurological deficit.

·        Children have average and above average intelligence.

·        Discrepancy between potential and performance.

 For eg.: Child comprehends  when read to, can answer verbally, but cannot write on paper.

POINTERS FOR SCHOOL GOING CHILDREN

Reading:-

·        Slow and hesitant (Points to each word).

·        Omits/adds letters.

·        Guesses words.

·        Poor comprehension

Writing:-

·        Slow, Poor handwriting

·        Incomplete notes/test answer papers, spelling errors.

·        Poor Organization, difficulty in putting thoughts on paper.

Maths:-

·        Difficulty with basic operations.

·        Place value.

·        Word problems.

·        Multiplication tables.

·        Writes answers correctly but transposes the number while writing. Eg. 89643 as 86943.

Language:-

·        Difficulty with narrations.

·        Finding words.

·        Poor comprehensions.

Social Skills:-

·        Poor self –esteem

·        Difficulty in understanding  jokes/indirect meanings.

Presence of few of these pointers does not mean that the child has Learning Disability.

Many normal children have some of these difficulties.

No two children will have the same pointers/profile.

HELPING THE LEARNING DISABLED CHILD

·        Correct and early diagnosis.

·        Identifying strengths.

·        Remediation

·        Provisions /evaluation.

POINTS TO REMEMBER

·        Learning disability and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder are separate disorders and should be diagnosed so

·        But, coexist in a large percentage of children.

·        Both affect learning functions.

·        One cannot look at either of the disorders in isolation.

Why should Learning Disability be identified at the earliest?

·        Flexibility of the brain.

·        Intensity of academic skills deficit can be minimized to large extent.

·        If not identified, it will lead to serious difficulty in academic skills.

·        If unremedated, it will give rise to secondary  difficulties.

LEARING DISABILITY

Affects academic skills

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If unidentified and unremediated

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Poor academic performance/failure can also happen

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Poor motivation in the child

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Repeated failure

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Rejection, frustration

(Parents, {sibs} [Teachers, Peers)

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Behavior & emotional problems
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Poor self esteem

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SOCIAL MISFITS.

Dr. Mohan P.T.
PHONE: 0487 2321344
Mob: 8281652944 &9249993028
Email: dr.mohanji@hotmail.com