Myth & Facts of Learning Disability

Learning Disability

Here are some common myths that we can fact check:

Myth 1: Learning disabilities usually occur in children with low intelligence or aptitude.

The statement is incorrect. Children with learning disabilities typically have a high IQ level. The learning disabilities are only visible in children with average or above-average intelligence. Nevertheless, these learners are unable to demonstrate their true talent in daily life due to their learning disabilities.

Myth 2: Easily recognized at an early age.

That could not be further from the truth. The truth is, there is no easy or fast way to diagnose a child with a learning disability. Sometimes, even the most refined technologies and studies fail to detect the presence of such a disability. Usually, learning disabilities go unnoticed for many years, and only when schools assign reading tests are when the disabilities are recognized. Diagnosing and recognizing a learning disability takes time; it is a complex process that involves information from a variety of different sources along with experiences.

Myth 3: It is not uncommon for learning-disabled children to be sluggish or unenthusiastic.

Children with ADHD also suffer from this type of learning disability. Because it is not a personality flaw, and learners suffering from learning disabilities often try even harder than their peers. In order to help children with learning disabilities to grow up with good self-esteem and high expectations, parents and teachers must support and appreciate their efforts.

Myth 4: Age improves learning disabilities.

Until now, people have thought that learning disabilities are going to get lighter as we age. However, with the right support and time, some individuals are able to cope and balance their disability. A child with a disability is better equipped to handle it if he/she learns more about it. This does not suggest that a child will not be able to accomplish anything.

Myth 5: Boys are more likely to suffer from learning disabilities than girls.

Despite the fact that boys are diagnosed with learning disabilities at a higher rate, experts believe that they essentially affect both genders at the same rate. Therefore, it deserves close examination with more practical intervention.

Myth 6: Learning disabilities are often caused by watching too much TV, eating poorly, receiving childhood vaccines, or lack of parental and teacher involvement at an early age.

Although we do not know exactly what causes learning disabilities within the brain, we do know that these difficulties are the result of differences in the structure and function of the brain, which impact whether or not a person can receive, store, process, retrieve, and communicate information. When children are exposed to toxic materials during development, or in utero, such as lead, there is both a genetic component and an increased risk.

Myth 7: People with learning disabilities cannot have successful careers.

Individuals with learning disabilities are usually intelligent and work as hard as any other individual. If a student is taught effective learning strategies and efficient accommodation methods, he can have a very successful career in a variety of fields. Among the successful people with learning disabilities are Richard Branson, Keira Knightley, Jay Leno, and Albert Einstein.

Myth 8: People who are dyslexic read backwards.

The myth about dyslexics seeing words in reverse is common, but not all people experiencing dyslexia do. Dyslexia comes in many forms, and while some dyslexics might see words reversibly (seeing “bat” as “tab” for instance), not everyone does. For example, some people have trouble reading one letter at a time (reading “does” as “dose” for example), while others have difficulty distinguishing one sound from another or combining multiple sounds to make a meaningful word.

Myth 9: Kids with learning disabilities can only be helped by tutoring.

A tutoring program is not effective for the majority of children with learning disabilities; however, it can be helpful for children who have missed a great deal of school from illness, injury, or a move. In essence, it allows students to catch up on material they may have missed due to a long absence. The only problem is that tutoring teaches “WHAT” to learn, not “HOW” to learn, so it does not address underlying learning problems. So It makes sense to try any cognitive skills training for learning disabilities since they are often caused by weak cognitive skills.

A particular type of cognitive training is called personal brain training, which involves working one-on-one with a trainer to do fun, challenging mental exercises which strengthen weak cognitive skills. In addition to immediate feedback, intensity, and loading, personal brain training targets different skills. The exercises used in effective brain training are derived from years of clinical and scientific research and are tailored to match an individual’s cognitive abilities.

As we’ve dispelled some of the myths about learning disabilities, we can use the knowledge we’ve gained to apply it to our child’s struggles. After all, we’ll always be on the front lines in our child’s battle against learning troubles!

Empowerkidz helps children by providing individualized assessments and dyslexia screenings that address all of the factors that may be affecting the child and may aid in the treatment of dyslexia.

You can Also Read: What is the relationship between ADHD and other learning disabilities?

Contact Dr. Anupma Sethi at +1-669-900-2315 today to learn more about Dyslexia screening and our customised approach, which includes the Orton-Gillingham approach, multisensory approach, and science of reading, which can help children with Dyslexia.