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5 Common Learning Disorders Every Parent Should Know About

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The key to developing a lifelong appreciation for learning is to find enjoyment in it. For some people, that may mean discovering a special talent; for others, it may mean falling in love with a novel. Unfortunately, some children are denied such an eye-opening, life-changing experience because they have a learning disability that gets in the way. There are a variety of learning disabilities, but the ones that are undiagnosed are the most debilitating. Looking for signs of a learning disability in your child? Here are five common learning disorders every parent should understand:

Dyslexia. It is likely that you are already familiar with this relatively common learning disability. Dyslexia is a condition in which words and letters don’t appear as they are to the reader afflicted with the condition. For example, letters may appear to be backward, or they may appear to be switched with each other, rendering words unrecognizable.

Attentional disorders. Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are both attentional disorders, meaning people with these disorders have a difficult (if not impossible) time focusing on any singular task, sitting still, and engaging/participating in critical discussion. It is obvious why and how such a disorder would stand in the way of a child learning in the classroom setting.

Dyscalculia. This is the mathematical counterpart to dyslexia. People with dyscalculia may not be able to remember basic addition and subtraction tables and may have difficulty reading, understanding, and working math problems. It’s not uncommon for people with dyscalculia to understand the underlying concepts of math, but not be able to master the numbers, symbols, and calculation methods.

Dysgraphia. Children with dysgraphia have a difficult time producing legible writing. They may be excellent spellers, as well as verbally articulate, but they may not be able to appropriately form letters, words, and sentences. For people with dysgraphia, things like spacing and size are an ongoing issue.

Language learning disabilities. Dysphagia and aphagia are learning disabilities that prevent children from properly understanding and articulating spoken language. Children with these language learning disabilities often ask for things to be repeated, and have difficulty when it comes to recounting a story in any kind of detail.

Children with learning disabilities are not lazy, unmotivated, or unintelligent. They simply struggle with learning things in the traditional ways that other children learn. If you suspect your child has one of these learning disabilities, see a doctor today to find out how you can go about helping foster a love of learning, as well as the ability to learn, in your child.