Learning Difficulties
A learning difficulty or disability can affect how individuals learn in a variety of ways, including how they take in, remember, understand, or express information. Learning is a four-step process of receiving, integrating, retrieving and using information. A learning difficulty may be defined as a problem a person has in learning in a typical manner, usually caused by unknown factors that affect the brains ability to receive and process information.
A learning difficulty doesn’t mean a lack of intelligence. It is important to understand that learning difficulties occur because of how the brain receives, processes, and transmits sensory information. People with learning difficulties often have average or above average intelligence, but lack the efficient neural processing that would allow them to reach their academic potential.
The most common forms of learning disability are in reading and spelling. Some additional problems may include difficulties with mathematics, a lack of organization, poor memory, trouble with task sequencing, inattention, or high distractibility.
Early detection and diagnosis
Usually a parent or teacher first suspects a learning difficulty in the early years of primary school.
Learning disabilities are not as obvious as other disabilities and as a result, children with learning disabilities can become very good at covering up their difficulties so they are not apparent to others. As a result, children with learning difficulties may not be seen to be struggling until adolescence or even adulthood. By this time they may have fallen far behind in their learning.
Therefore it is important if parents or teachers suspect that a child is experiencing difficulties in learning that the child is referred for a detailed assessment.
Not all children experiencing learning problems will go on to be diagnosed with a learning disability. Some children are slower in developing certain skills. However, given that any delay in development may put a child at risk of problems, including social and emotional, it is important to have an assessment of difficulties if learning problems are suspected.
The earlier you get a diagnosis, the sooner remedial strategies can be put in place. It is important to note that intervention won’t cure learning disabilities, but the implementation of appropriate strategies can make a bit difference to academic outcomes. The approach to helping individuals experiencing learning difficulties is to teach learning skills by building on the individual’s abilities and strengths while providing strategies to compensate for areas of difficulty.
Learning difficulties are diagnosed using standardized psychological tests. These tests compare the person’s level of mastery in a given academic area to that which is considered normal development for most individuals of that age.
What to do next
If you feel uncertain about the learning progress of your child, seek help. There is no stigma in talking to a psychologist about your child. They are trained to observe and diagnose these issues. They do it carefully and sympathetically and they can provide recommendations.
Call Lewis & Lewis on (03) 9380 5742 to get more information about our Learning Difficulties Service.
Resources on learning difficulties
The American National Centre for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) provides information and offers a guided formal checklist to assist with determining whether a learning difficulty may exist. This can be found at www.ncld.org
The Australian Learning Disability Association website provides detailed information as well as useful information. This information can be found at www.adcet.edu.au/oao
Learning Disabilities Australia is a not-for-profit organization that provides support and resources for teachers and professional educators. Go to www.ldaustralia.org
