What Is A Learning Disability?
Learning disabilities are neurological disorders that impact cognitive processes and the way that information is received and processed. There is a common misconception that someone with a learning disability is not as intelligent as his peers, but that is not the case – they just struggle with conventional learning methods and require unique solutions.
The most prevalent processing problems that result from a learning disability are associated with skills like writing, reading, and math. With the right strategic interventions and support services, someone with a learning disability can overcome any academic challenges just as successfully as those without cognitive impairments.
Do you or someone you know struggle with reading and writing skills, have difficulty focusing, or are generally disorganised? The difficulties that you are experiencing could be due to the prevalence of a learning disability. With a proper examination, we are able to help you understand and make sense of what you are experiencing and we can develop strategies to help you overcome your academic hurdles.
How Waystone Helps You with Learning & Coping Skills
Our experience enables us to offer clients a straightforward process to recovery. Having said that, you can rest assured that we do not use a cookie-cutter approach but rather treat each client with the individualized care and attention that you deserve.
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Common Learning Disabilities
Learning disabilities are more prevalent than you might think – they affect roughly 10% of children under the age of 18. Every learning disorder exhibits its own variety of challenges and can vary quite dramatically. Among the most common learning disorders are:
Dyslexia:A linguistic processing disorder that impacts the ability to read, write, and comprehend language.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD):ADHD involves an increased difficulty with paying attention, staying focused, and impulsivity.
Dysgraphia:A learning disability that results in difficulties to convert thoughts into writing or drawing. Among many others, poor handwriting is a common symptom.
Dyscalculia:A learning disability that encompasses struggles related to mathematical concepts and calculations.
Auditory Processing Disorder (APD):APD is a disorder in which one has difficulties processing sounds – filtering sounds and misinterpreting information are also common issues.
Nonverbal Learning Disabilities (NVLD):NVLD involves abnormal difficulties in decoding social cues and nonverbal communication.
Visual Perceptual Motor Deficit:Individuals who struggle from visual perceptual motor deficit exhibit poor hand-eye coordination – this includes using a variety of fine motor activities like writing, drawing, or navigating their surroundings.
How To Diagnose Learning Disabilities
Considering that learning disabilities do not exhibit physically apparent symptoms, psychological tests need to be performed in order to determine the presence of a learning disability. Our team at Waystone Psychology has the experience and expertise to perform accurate psychoeducational assessments to properly diagnose learning impairments and disorders. We are equipped to evaluate people of all ages, assess their strengths and weaknesses, and plan a support program to help overcome any and all learning challenges.
The ramifications of learning disabilities are well studied and understood, however, the causes of them are generally unknown. Research suggests that learning disabilities have a variety of possible risk factors including: genetic predispositions, environmental and nutritional factors, or neurological injury in utero. It is important to note that these are not specific causes but are simply risk factors for learning disabilities.
How You Can Support Your Child With A Learning Disability
If you are concerned about your child’s academic development, you should see a qualified professional to assess your child for learning disabilities. Often without an assessment, the difficulties that your child faces can be misconstrued as a lack of motivation or a lack of intellectual capacity; which is usually not the case. You can’t go wrong with getting a professional opinion.
Even outside of school and professional support, it is important for you child to feel appreciated, understood, and supported. Positive reinforcement is an incredibly effective way to boost your child’s self-esteem. As a parent, you have the potential to be your child’s strong ally throughout their challenges. The most important thing that you can do is to become familiar with their disability and begin to understand their particular needs.
How We Can Help
With proper support, treatment, and guidance, children with learning disabilities can overcome their challenges and develop a love of learning. At Waystone Psychology, we have a proven process of assessment, identification of areas of improvement, and strategies to treat learning disabilities.
We are able to recommend specific tools and evaluation methods to help understand any learning disabilities that your child might have. Using our Psychoeducational assessments, we can accurately provide a diagnosis and develop coping strategies to adapt to the challenges that are presented by your child’s specific learning disability.
There is no cure for learning disorders, but we can work closely with you or your child to improve the fundamental skills of reading, writing, and math in order to set a strong foundation for future success; academically and in life. Contact us today for a consultation!
