Take Time: Here’s what you need to know about learning disability

A child with specific learning disability is one of average or above average intelligence who has specific difficulties which can make learning very difficult. There may be deficits in any of the basic central nervous system functions, which have to do with the acquisition and use of listening, speaking, reading, writing, reasoning or mathematical abilities i.e. attention, memory, language, auditory and visual perception, motor coordination and planning, spatial orientation, impulse control and sequencing — in short, if there is a discrepancy between the child’s potential and actual achievement.

Dyslexia

Dyslexia is also known as a reading disorder; it is characterised by a trouble with reading. Different people are affected to varying degrees. Problems may include difficulties in spelling words, reading quickly, writing words, pronouncing words when reading aloud and understanding what one reads.

Dyscalculia

Dyscalculia is a difficulty in learning or comprehending arithmetic, such as difficulty in understanding numbers, learning how to manipulate numbers, and learning facts in mathematics. Children in school may find it difficult to comprehend sums, word problems, fractions and basic algebra.

Dysgraphia

Dysgraphia is a deficiency in the ability to write. It is a writing disorder associated with impaired handwriting. At school, a child’s handwriting may be illegal, untidy, and incomplete, may clutter a word at the end of a line, and may apply too much or too little pressure while writing.

Commonly made errors

Mirror images and reversal writing  

Dyspraxia

It is a brain-based condition that makes it hard to plan and coordinate physical movement. Children with dyspraxia tend to struggle with balance and posture. They may appear clumsy or out of sync with their environment. It can affect the development of gross motor skills like walking, running and jumping. It can also affect fine motor skills.

Aphasia

Aphasia is a communication disorder that results from damage or injury to language parts of the brain. Aphasia gets in the way of a person’s ability to use or understand words. Aphasia does not impair the person’s intelligence. People who have aphasia may have a difficulty in speaking and finding the “right” words to complete their thoughts. They may also have problems understanding conversation, reading and comprehending.

Strategies to help school goers-

               MATH

• Use attractive material, however, do not bombard in too much colour.
• Using different textures to teach numbers is a good option. Children learn well by the touch-and-feel method.
• Allow the child to write numbers/letters  in a salt tray, avoid sand as some may consume it.
• Use real objects to introduce number value and counting.
• Follow the right learning sequence, first  3D objects followed by flash cards or 2D material.
• For the concept of greater and less than, make sure that the two examples you show are diverse. E.g. 2 and 10 and not 7 and 8
• While teaching new concepts like addition and subtraction, make sure there is a gap of a few days to avoid confusion.
• While teaching fractions, allow the child to cut a cake into slices or tear a tissue into pieces or cut a fruit. Only drawing it the note book may not help.
• While teaching word problems, make sure you have a clear list of mathematical operations, E.g.: sum, into and total, stand for addition.
• If your child particularly has a difficulty in a subject or topic, mount a chart of it on a wall in your house.
• Use the abacus or table board to teach math in an attractive manner.
• If your child reverses a few numbers/letters make a list of them and practice them individually daily.

    READING

• Start from small to big letters.
• Teach the importance of the different punctuation marks while reading.
• Teach sight words by sticking the word on the object itself. Eg: stick the word, table on a table, the word wall, on a wall.
• If the child jumps between lines, place a ruler/scale or blank sheet of paper under each line that is being read.
• Highlight words that he/she may find difficult to read or pronounce.
• Encourage reading/memorising one word from the dictionary daily.
• E-flash apps is a good free app to teach all basic concepts. It mentions a word, says how to pronounce it and displays a picture too.
• Encourage reading the newspaper headlines.
• Encourage reading by introducing picture stories

          WRITING

• To introduce writing use a thicker crayon or piece of chalk.
• Use colourful pencils and pens to make writing more fun.
• Use a gripper to improve the writing grip.
• Write on sand or salt using a stick or pointer finger.
• Make a list of all the letters that are being reversed, omitted or substituted.
• Use wipe-and-write sheets to encourage writing.
• Join-the-dots, complete the maze and basic tracing activities always help.
• Fine motor activities like beading, peg board games, building blocks and puzzles can help improve writing and perceptual skills.

Students may feel pressurised or unduly compared with their “better” sibling or classmate, this may lead to a lowered self-esteem and self-image, which may thus trigger an emotional problem in the near future. It is important to respect and appreciate the smallest efforts the child attempts to put in.

(Alisha Lalljee is a psychologist, special educator and psychotherapist practising in Bandra, Mumbai)

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