Family Doctor 2007 - (Page 208) kids & teens LEARNING Raising grades If your child is struggling in school, it may be for perfectly good reasons. Here’s a quick rundown on the possible causes for those Cs, Ds or Fs. By Karen Rafinski Q. What signs point to learning disabilities? A. About 5% of American public schoolchildren suffer from one of the many different kinds of learning disabilities. Some early warning signs include slow language development or poor coordination. But learning disabilities are often invisible until a child is school age. In many cases they are diagnosed after a professional educational evaluation. DID YOU KNOW? ADHD exists all around the world, though different countries may have different names for the condition. Researchers have found it in North and South America, Great Britain, Europe, Japan, China, Turkey and the Middle East. Symptoms of learning disabilities include: ● Inability to tell the difference between letters, numbers and sounds. A ll parents want their children to shine in school. But sometimes even smart kids who work hard can’t seem to grasp basic skills like reading or math. Or they may have ● Poor reading and writing skills. ● Poor memory. ● Difficulty understanding logical order. ● Difficulty understanding and difficulty concentrating on schoolwork. They may have a condition that makes it difficult for them to learn what seems to come naturally to others. Does this sound like your child? If it does, your child could have a learning disability or attention disorder — problems that need special educational or medical help. following directions. ● Short attention span. There is no proven medical treatment for learning Therapy, disabilities. tutoring Q. What makes school a struggle? A. Learning disability is a broad term for many difficulties. You may already be familiar with dyslexia, a reversal of letters and words. But there can be problems involving other subject areas. Some common learning disorders include: ● Dyscalculia. Difficulty with math concepts. ● Dysgraphia. Difficulty with writing or fine motor skills. ● Dyspraxia. Difficulty with motor coordination. and special education, however, can help children cope with the problem. law Federal An attention disorder, most commonly known as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), makes it hard for children (and later, adults) to focus on learning and other tasks. The causes of these disorders are not well understood. Researchers have found some YOUR CHILD MAY HAVE ADHD IF HE OR SHE: HAS DIFFICULTY FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS IS EASILY DISTRACTED LOSES THINGS BLURTS OUT ANSWERS DOESN’T APPEAR TO LISTEN FIDGETS differences in the brains of those who have learning disabilities and ADHD. The disorders have also been linked to genetic factors; alcohol, tobacco or other drug use during pregnancy; and toxins such as lead in a child’s environment. In most cases, there’s no known cause. But there’s hope. Children who have these disorders are usually just as smart as students who take to school easily. They can learn and succeed. Therapy, special education and tutoring can help children cope with learning difficulties. 208 familydoctor 2007
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