There is still much to be discovered regarding learning disabilities. There are some general guidelines that seem to fit most cases. Some children develop and mature at a slower rate than others in the same age group. As a result, they may not be able to do the expected school work. This kind of learning disability is called "maturational lag."
A number of children with normal vision and hearing may misunderstand normal sights and sounds because of some mysterious disorder of the nervous system. Injuries before birth or in early childhood possibly account for some later learning issues. Children who are born prematurely and children who had medical problems soon after birth sometimes have learning disabilities. Learning disabilities have a propensity to run in families, so some learning disabilities may be hereditary. Learning disabilities are more frequent in boys than girls, perhaps because boys tend to mature more gradually. Some learning disabilities appear to be connected to the irregular spelling, pronunciation, and formation of English words. The frequency of learning disabilities is lower in Spanish or Italian speaking nations.
Children with learning disabilities show a wide variety of indicators. These consist of difficulty in reading, math, comprehension, writing, spoken language, or reasoning capacity. Hyperactivity, inattention and perceptual coordination may also be linked with learning disabilities but are not learning disabilities in themselves. The primary feature of a learning disability is a major dissimilarity between a child's accomplishment in some areas and his or her general aptitude. Learning disabilities usually affect five general areas
Verbal speaking ability can be affected causing delays, disorders and variation when listening and speaking. Written language can be affected with difficulty in reading, writing and spelling. A child can have problems with math, and have a hard time understanding fundamental math concepts. Reasoning can be affected; a child with learning disabilities can have problems with organizing and putting together their thoughts. Memory can be affected as well, with children having problems remembering information.
If a parent suspects that their child may have learning disabilities, they should get in touch with the child's school and arrange for testing and evaluation. Federal law requires that public school districts provide special education and related services to children who need them. If these tests show that the child needs special educational services, the school evaluation team will convene to create an individual educational plan (IEP) best fitted to the child's needs. The IEP describes in specifics, an educational arrangement planned to help with the child's difficulties.
Concurrently, the parent should bring their child to their doctor for a full physical examination. The child should be examined for issues that can be corrected, such as glasses for poor vision and hearing aids for hearing loss. This can greatly help difficulties that child is experiencing at school.