3 Ways to Know If You Have a Learning Disturbance

2024 Author: Jason Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-19 22:11

A learning disability (LD) is a nervous system disorder that affects how the brain processes information, making it difficult or impossible for a person to learn certain skills, such as reading, writing, and arithmetic. While many people are diagnosed at an early age and begin therapy while in school, unfortunately others are missed and never received a diagnosis. This guide will help determine whether you or your child has a learning disability. This article will also explain the process of screening and diagnosis.

Step

Method 1 of 3: Recognizing Symptoms of Learning Difficulties

Step 1. Understand that there are many types of learning difficulties

Each of these disorders affects the individual in different ways and causes different symptoms. LD can affect the way the brain processes sounds, images or verbal information/stimuli.

• LD is the result of a nervous system disorder that affects the way the brain receives, processes, stores, and responds to information, which is a cognitive function of the brain.
• LD is incurable and persists for life. But LD can be controlled with proper help.

Step 2. Know the most common types of LD

According to research, 16.52% of the 3,215 elementary school students in Jakarta suffer from LD. Unfortunately, because all types of LD affect the cognitive regions of the brain, symptoms often overlap, making it difficult to identify even by trained professionals. For example, poor writing skills can be caused by difficulty processing symbols (dyslexia) or poor spatial arrangement (dysgraphia). Here are the most common types of LD:

1. Dyslexia is a reading difficulty that affects how a person interprets sounds, letters and words. Dyslexia can affect a person's general vocabulary and reading speed and efficiency. Symptoms of dyslexia include slow speech, difficulty writing, and difficulty understanding words that rhyme.
2. Dyscalculia affects a person's ability to process numbers, and can be thought of as a disturbance in the ability to remember, as well as difficulty in sorting patterns and numbers. Symptoms of dyscalculia include difficulty counting and remembering numeracy concepts.

3. Dysgraphia is a type of learning difficulty in writing, and can be caused by the inability of the physical motor to run efficiently or mental difficulties in understanding and processing certain forms of information. People who suffer from dysgraphia tend to show poor writing skills, illegible and/or irregular handwriting, and have difficulty communicating in written form.

   

   Step 3. Identify common symptoms of learning difficulties

   Although each LD affects the brain in different ways, there are common symptoms that can help indicate whether a person has a speech, visual or sound disorder. These symptoms include:

   • Difficulty in spelling.
   • Reluctance to read and write.
   • Difficulty summarizing.
   • Problems with hanging questions.
   • Bad memory.
   • Problems with abstract concepts.
   • Difficulty expressing ideas.
   • Pronunciation error.
   • Easily distracted concentration.
   • Difficulty distinguishing between right and left or weakness in recognizing directions.
   • Difficulty following directions or completing tasks.

   

   Step 4. Observe daily patterns and routines

   Take detailed notes, if necessary, and look for the most obvious symptoms of LD-weak memory, poor social skills, frustration with reading and/or writing.

   • Do you or your child do daily tasks differently each time? This can be an indication of LD.
   • Do this over a long period of time.

   

   Step 5. Consider other causes

   These symptoms may not be caused by LD, but by another condition that affects you or your child. Often, many people show symptoms of LD but don't actually suffer from any disorder. Instead, they are affected by social, financial, personal, or general living conditions that make it difficult for them to study or stay focused.

   • These "learning problems" do not include health disorders.
   • It is very difficult to distinguish between a learning disability disorder and a learning problem.

   

   Step 6. Take the quiz

   If you're not sure if your symptoms are due to social or external circumstances, the next step is to take a quiz or questionnaire, which is widely available online. These tests can help you assess whether you should take further screening.

   Here is a test you can take at home

   

   Step 7. Understand that having LD does not mean that the person is not intelligent or capable

   In contrast, people with LD usually show above-average intelligence. Charles Schwab and Whoopi Goldberg have been diagnosed with LD and many suspect Albert Einstein may have suffered from the same disorder.

   • Celebrities such as Tom Cruise, Danny Glover and Jay Leno are dyslexic, and are actively taking part in campaigns to raise awareness of the disorder.
   • Historians and researchers suspect the following historical figures may also have suffered from some form of learning disability: George Patton, Walt Disney, Leonardo Da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson and Napoleon Bonaparte.

   Method 2 of 3: Obtaining a Diagnosis Professionally (for Adults)

   

   Step 1. Consult a medical doctor

   If you have symptoms or you suspect you may have LD, the first step in seeking help is to contact your doctor. The doctor will discuss with you the steps that can be taken, and look for other symptoms more specifically. If necessary, your doctor can appropriately direct you to perform further screening tests.

   • This is not a diagnosis, but only the first step of several steps needed to be able to undergo a proper diagnosis.
   • Accurate diagnosis process includes initial consultation, screening test, then final diagnosis.

   

   Step 2. Run the filter test for LD

   Screening is an informal process conducted between you and an LD advisor. After undergoing the screening, your adviser will tell you whether you need to follow the diagnosis further or not.

   • The filter test is fairly inexpensive.
   • The screening test includes observations, interviews, and short tests.
   • Mental health clinics and state rehabilitation agencies can carry out initial consultations.
   • Mental health clinics and local universities often run assessments at a cost-adjusted basis.

   

   Step 3. Follow an official evaluation run by a qualified expert

   This expert is not necessarily your doctor-most medical practitioners in general are not licensed to diagnose LD-but a clinical or neuropsychologist.

   Once your advisor has finished running the evaluation using all the information, you will need to meet with him/her again to discuss the results

   

   Step 4. Return to the advisor for a consultation

   During the meeting, your counselor will diagnose and provide a written report containing detailed information about your LD. This report will serve as the information specialists need to provide you with further assistance.

   This report can also be used to make requests for special accommodations at school or work

   

   Step 5. Ask questions

   When you return to discuss the results of your evaluation, be sure to ask your advisor about anything that feels unclear.

   • Are there things you don't understand?
   • Do you feel that the next steps to take are unclear? What do your advisors expect?

   Method 3 of 3: Getting a Professional Diagnosis for Your Child

   

   Step 1. Contact the child's teacher

   Tell him about your concerns. The teacher or other expert will collect information about your child's learning abilities.

   • After gathering enough information, the teacher or specialist will provide a series of learning strategies or additional learning activities for your child.
   • The school cannot collect information about your child without your express written consent.

   

   Step 2. Review the learning strategies and activities provided by your specialist

   Make sure your child's weaknesses are also addressed in the additional study plans that have been provided by the specialist.

   What is expected of the lesson plan to accurately include your child's needs?

   

   Step 3. Follow the routine given by your specialist

   This routine was created to help your child become a more effective student. What's more, this routine will help specialists to diagnose the type of LD more accurately. But as in any exercise, this activity will only be successful if it is followed according to plan.

   If this study plan yields positive results, usually no further action is required

   

   Step 4. Seek formal evaluation

   Educational and child development institutions often hold free screening tests for children. So if your child is not showing progress from the activities your specialist has given you, your child should have a formal evaluation.

   • Your child's teacher can provide more information about the process.
   • The official screening test will include a series of tests and interviews.
   • The committee may suggest taking special education.

   

   Step 5. Get an Individualized Education Program (IEP)

   After the committee has completed the evaluation using all the information, you will meet with them to create an Individualized Learning Program for your child. This program will address the learning goals for your child, as well as provide you with information about the services that your school or school district provides.

   • You deserve to be a part of this process!
   • If you have specific learning goals for your child, these should be discussed in the meeting after the evaluation.

   

   Step 6. Follow the Individualized Learning Program

   Depending on the specific learning goals and the type of LD, it may take a while to see significant development in your child.

   Individual Learning Programs may have a progression time calculation. This is just a guide, not a fixed rule

   

   Step 7. Contact the school if you believe the program is not working

   You have the right to include your child for re-evaluation if the Individual Learning Program you received does not produce significant results.

   • LD is very difficult to diagnose, which means re-evaluation is common.
   • Because the symptoms of LD tend to overlap, even a highly trained specialist can misdiagnose the specific type of LD.

   Tips

   • Be aware that Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can have an impact on learning, but is not considered LD. Although 30 to 50 percent of individuals with ADHD are also diagnosed with LD, the two are not the same disorder.
   • ADHD refers to a condition in which a person has a very difficult time staying focused and paying attention.
   • LD is characterized by difficulty processing a number of symbols and ideas.