Diving Deep: Navigating And Understanding The World Of Learning Difficulties

Dear readers,?

In our previous newsletter, we discussed about some ways to battle stereotypes associated with learning disabilities. Let us now dive deep into the various types of learning disabilities that affect our children, how they manifest and some ways to support your child through their journey.?

Learning disabilities can be manifested as primary conditions—as difficulties in acquiring specific academic skills—or as secondary conditions, along with other developmental disorders such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Source: American Psychologist: Understanding, educating, and supporting children with specific learning disabilities: 50 years of science and practice. Date: January 2020

Types of learning disabilities:

• Dyslexia: A specific learning disability that affects reading and related language-based processing skills is the most common learning disability.
• Dysgraphia: A specific learning disability diagnosed in childhood that affects a person’s handwriting ability and fine motor skills.
• Dyscalculia: A specific learning disability that affects a person’s ability to understand numbers and learn math facts and difficulty in learning arithmetic.
• Language Processing Disorder: A type of Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) in which people have trouble putting meaning to the sound groups that make up words, phrases, and stories.
• Nonverbal learning disabilities: A disorder that is usually characterized by a significant discrepancy between higher verbal skills, and weaker motor, visual–spatial, and social skills.

Disclaimer: If someone you know is exhibiting concerning signs or symptoms, similar to the above, it is crucial to approach the situation with care and empathy and seek professional help and guidance from qualified mental health experts. The above information is only for informational purposes and does not substitute for a diagnosis.