Kids Whose Brains are Wired Differently Can Succeed Socially & Academically

Source: Parenting OC

About one in seven people in the United States has some type of learning disability such as dyslexia, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Learning differences are lifelong conditions, but few understand that children can enjoy success in school and professionally with early intervention and alternative learning strategies.

Each person's situation is truly unique: cases can vary from mild to severe, straightforward to more complex. What all learning differences do have in common is that they are neurological disorders in which a person's brain is 'wired' differently. This affects the way it receives, processes, stores and responds to information.



Common Learning Differences

Dyslexia is a language learning difference in which children have trouble learning the alphabet, spelling, playing with sounds, pronouncing words, and staying organized.


Dyscalculia presents different number- and math-related obstacles. Some people can do arithmetic calculations, while others struggle with mental math.

Children with dysgraphia, a writing disorder, have poor handwriting and may tire quickly while writing.

Dyspraxia is a motor-skill development disorder in which it's challenging to plan and complete tasks like waving a hand, brushing teeth, playing sports, or having a conversation. Walking, hopping, skipping, throwing and catching are challenging. Also, children may be slow to establish right- or left-handedness and have difficulty handwriting, tying shoes or buttoning clothes. Some may move their whole head instead of just the eyes; others have a hard time using utensils and holding a cup.

Visual processing disorders are sensory disabilities in which the brain has difficulty interpreting and processing information taken in through the eyes, despite normal vision.

Auditory processing disorders, such as sensory integration disorder, interfere with how the brain interprets and processes information received through the ears, even though the person does not have deafness or hearing loss.

Nonverbal learning disorders (NLDs), also called right-hemisphere learning disorders, cause difficulties with visual-spatial, intuitive, organizational and evaluative processing.

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD), is often mistaken as a learning disability but is actually a neurobehavioral attention disorder. There are three main subtypes of attention deficit: primarily inattentive, hyperactive/impulsive, and combined.

Early intervention is critical for a child's academic success and positive self-perception. This is not to be confused with academic tutoring, which may help with schoolwork but ultimately does not address the learning difference.

The article also elaborates about pervasive myths and warning signs.
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