Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Learning Disorder?
A Learning Disability (sometimes called a disorder” or “difference”) refers to the effects of different wiring in the brain that makes it harder for an individual to comprehend and process certain kinds of information.
While learning disabilities can be passed on genetically in families, they are NOT related to intelligence. In fact, learning disabilities typically affect people of average or above average intelligence. The disability appears as a gap between expected skills, based on age and intelligence, and academic performance.” (Mayoclinic.org, “What is a Learning Disability.” See also Wikipedia, “Learning Disability.”) This is why an individual can be both gifted and learning disabled. Their high intelligence is inconsistent with their surprisingly unexceptional academic performance.
What shall I tell my child once I learn they have a learning disability? Should I keep their learning disability a secret for as long as possible So they don’t feel badly?
Please don’t! WEC understands this instinct to protect your child from bad news. But the fact is that almost all children do best when they know this information about themselves. In fact, getting this information often results in huge relief. They may even be angry if they learn that you withheld this information. And since they will be receiving some extra help and maybe some accommodations in the classroom, they really need to understand why they are getting this help. Finally, your child will now understand why they struggle more than their peers, and that it is not their fault! Better yet, they will have proof that they are neither lazy nor “stupid”!
Who should talk to My child and about what?
The psychologist who tested your child will share his/her findings, including strengths, and in a low-key way will share the diagnosis, explain what it means and what it doesn’t, and answer any questions. These professionals are experts at having such conversations with kids. Parents should be next to have a conversation with their child, first checking to see what the child took away from the chat with the psychologist, clarifying and explaining as needed, and assuring the child that you are not upset and they should not be. These conversations should explain the opportunities your child will now have to get the help they need, and deserve, to help them learn and show what they know. And definitely, assure them that the diagnosis does not mean they aren’t smart. On the contrary, it is because they are smart, yet struggle with learning certain types of information, that they are considered “learning disabled.”
Why is it so important that my child continues to believe they are smart?
Most children with learning disabilities, including those documented to be gifted, suffer from very poor self-esteem, typically beginning in the 4th – 6th grade and for many years after. They believe they are stupid because they work so hard but struggle to learn certain things, and because their peers often tell them they are stupid. For a child to accept their disability and learn to overcome or compensate for it, their self-esteem needs to be intact. You, their parents and teachers, must constantly work on that self-esteem.
Can Learning Disabilities Be Cured?
While learning disabilities cannot be cured, they can be well managed. With a lot of hard work by the individual and good practices by experts in the field, all learning disabilities can be remediated through special teaching and strategies for the learner. With these methods, individuals with a reading disorder can learn to read, and those with other disorders can improve their skills.
But it is essential that those who teach kids with learning disabilities don’t resort to conventional teaching strategies out of laziness or any other reason. People with a learning disability have trouble performing specific types of skills or completing tasks if left to figure things out by themselves or if taught in conventional ways. Wikipedia, “Learning Disabilities.”
How can I tell if my child might have a learning disability?
A great question! Parents are often aware that something is wrong before the teacher is.
Look for these things. If you aren’t sure, ask your child’s teacher to give you their input:
Is your child’s academic performance in one or more areas significantly below what you or the school would expect based on age and intelligence testing or observations? Is it well below their performance in other academic areas?
Has your child’s motivation been decreasing, especially if the change started around the 4th grade or later?
Is your child particularly reluctant to read out loud?
Has your child started having physical symptoms such as stomach aches or headaches before leaving for school in the morning or after an extended break?
Does your child become unusually anxious before or during math class, homework, or tests?
Does your child yawn a lot during class despite a good night’s sleep, and/or do they come home from school exhausted?
Do they tend to have difficulty understanding and/or following directions?
Has your child been labeled, or do I suspect, that (s)he is “gifted,” and yet (s)he does not do that well in school?
(See also mayoclinic.org, “What are the signs of learning disorders?”)
There are almost an unlimited number of questions I could ask you and almost as many learning disabilities. If you have questions about what you are seeing in your child, I’d be delighted to hear from you and happy to talk it through in a FREE consultation. Please see the Contact Us section of the website to start the process.
What if I believe there is no “right fit” for my child, who doesn’t seem to fit in anywhere?
This actually happened to Sally Smith, founder and then-director of the Lab School of Washington, in the 1960s. Her youngest son was in first grade, and Ms. Smith learned at this point the extent of his learning disabilities. Schools all refused to accept him because they didn’t think he could learn. Ms. Smith founded the Lab School to develop ways in which he and many other bright but learning disabled kids could learn. And they did, her son included. So whether it’s the Lab School or another special place, there are now a number of local schools that excel at teaching even very learning disabled kids.
How can I tell if my child might have ADHD?
What are the typical symptoms of ADHD? How early are they detectable? Are they similar to or largely different from the signs of learning disabilities? Are all or most kids with ADHD learning disabled as well?
Typical symptoms of ADHD:
Interrupting, difficulty waiting their turn, and/or difficulty considering others’ needs and desires
Trouble keeping emotions under control, such as outbursts of anger when less emotion and greater self-control would be the norm
Difficulty sitting still
Difficulty playing quietly or engaging calmly in activities
Starting but not finishing tasks, as they are distracted by other things
Trouble paying attention even when someone is speaking only to them
Avoiding activities that require sustained mental effort, including paying attention in class or doing homework
Careless mistakes
Trouble getting organized, and keeping track of and prioritizing tasks
Losing things and forgetting to do daily activities such as chores and homework
Daydreaming, staring into space, not being present in the moment, being less engaged than peers
https://www.healthline.com/health/adhd/signs#
Adolescents with ADHD
There is a separate list of tasks that adolescents with ADHD may have trouble with. (See https://www.healthline.com/health/adhd/signs#symptoms-in-adolescents.)
Thus far, ADHD has not been included in standard definitions of a learning disability. And there is good reason for this. The symptoms of ADHD and those of learning disabilities are quite different. Both cause difficulties with learning, especially in a classroom environment, but the reasons for the difficulties largely differ.
For example, inattention is the primary feature of ADHD, with hyperactive-impulsive behavior present in some but not all cases. ADHD symptoms start before age 12, and in some children they're noticeable as early as 3 years of age. (www.mayoclinic.org › adhd › symptoms-causes › syc-20350889.) But inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity are not prevalent in people with learning disabilities unless ADHD is also present. So while some people with ADHD may also be learning disabled, many are not. (See Wikipedia, “Learning Disability, Contrast with other Disorders.”)
What should I do if:
My child is smart but struggling academically, and
The school is refusing to test my child or try interventions (teaching methods tried to see if they can help a child improve in areas of difficulty)?
You can request a special education evaluation to see if your child has a learning disability that qualifies him/her for special education services. Such an evaluation can be done by a school or county psychologist at no cost to you, or you can pay for an independent evaluation with a certified licensed psychologist.
Winik Educational Consulting does not conduct such evaluations but can guide you in making this decision and can help find an excellent and proven psychologist for your child at a lower rate than most and sometimes even a discount.
Some children might act out to distract attention from their challenges at school. Children who have learning disabilities can also experience performance anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, chronic fatigue, or loss of motivation.
As soon as you start to suspect that any of these issues may be affecting your child, you need to seek expert assistance. Please, do not worry about any stigma. Your child’s health must come first!
Winik Educational Consulting stands ready to help you take the first steps towards a better life for your child.