Detecting signs of reading disabilities, as early as possible, will help to treat the condition at the right time. Read on to know more information that will prove useful in addressing the learning requirements of a child that needs help.
As a responsible parent, one sends their wards to school to learn to read, write and become a part of the educated society. Note, the first thing a child will be taught in school is to read. Only when the preschooler learns to read, he/she will be able to gather knowledge about various subjects, as well as learn to write. Reading is the fundamental skill required to succeed in school as well as in a professional setup. Unfortunately, many children are unable to read, not because they are not taught well, or fail to learn. It is because reading becomes one of the more arduous tasks they face in life. They cannot understand the set of words. It becomes absolutely frustrating for the young mind to decipher the hidden meanings behind words. These signs of reading problems need to be addressed as soon as possible, and without guidance these children will be doomed for life.
What Do They Mean?
Reading is a skill that one needs to master in order to excel in other skills. Reading helps in comprehending the meaning of words, sentences as well as the passage. One should be able to read a complex sentence of many words, the minute their eyes fall on the given text passage. It is part of the physical, neurological and cognitive process of the brain. If one fails to do so, it indicates they have a reading disability. Decoding words is a natural ability, once one knows to differentiate between alphabets, their sounds and meanings. It has been found about 85% of children who have learning disabilities, have problems reading. These disabilities cannot be cured, but they need to be managed. When the child is guided at the right time, it helps them become good readers and succeed in their education. Parents and teachers, both should be able to detect any kind of learning or reading disability in children, to help them grow academically.
Signs to Spot
Before we shun a child as a weak student, or a dumb kid, it is important to watch out for signs. Not all children are born with the same capabilities to learn, understand, decode and retain information placed opposite them. Some children are just slow learners, whereas, some show lighting speed in understanding new concepts. It is not necessary all children with learning disabilities have low intelligence or weak brain power. If signs of learning disabilities in children are spotted early on, one can help them overcome their weakness and have a better academic life. Some of the signs in children are as follows:
☛ A child that learns to speak much later than other children of his/her age. Children should start speaking by the time they are 2 years of age. They should be able to string short sentences of 2 to 3 words together easily.
☛ A child should be able to pronounce words clearly by the age of 3 years.
☛ A child should not have difficulty in differentiating between similar sounding or rhyming words.
☛ A child should be able to recollect the missing word, when one provides him/her with a phrase without the missing word.
☛ It is important to note that a child should be able to identify and recognize all the alphabets and number (0-10) by their shapes.
☛ A preschooler should be able to draw and write their own words.
☛ When a child is read a story, he/she should be able to comprehend the storyline and understand what you read.
☛ The child often appears day dreaming, distracted or appears to misunderstand important cues given.
The symptoms are similar to the signs spotted in infants and preschoolers. Older children with disabilities will have problems understanding the ideas or concepts explained in a text passage. They may even have problems recognizing and differentiating between words. Some children are able to read aloud well, but when asked questions about the same paragraphs, they have difficulty in explaining or retaining what they just read. These children are found to have poor phrasing ability and almost avoid reading. This causes them get frustrated with academic tasks and show poor grades in school.
Causes
Disabilities arises when differences occur in the language processing and visual reasoning areas of the brain. This condition may be inherited, or may occur due to vision problems, hearing problems, speech difficulty or failure to understand given instructions.
Types
There are two types: dyslexia and hyperlexia. Dyslexia is a condition where the person has problems reading, even if they have adequate IQ, motivation as well as educational facilities. These children have problems with expressive language, receptive language and reading. They mostly show signs of behavioral problems in schools as well as at home. Children with hyperlexia on the other hand have average or above average IQ. Their word recognizing ability is far better than what is expected of their age. These children thus, have problems understanding speech. About 5 to 10% of these children fall under the autism spectrum.
If a parent suspects their ward has some kind of learning or reading disability, they should speak to their teachers. After getting a feedback from the school teachers, the child should be taken to a counselor for further assessment. If the child is found to be suffering from learning disabilities, he/she shall be counseled and guided to overcome their problems in grasping words. Parents will also be taught some management tricks that will help them continuously build their child’s ability to connect words and letters to sounds. There are many therapies available that helps a child overcome their drawbacks, and do well academically. Before you label a child as weak or unintelligent, try to find out if he/she is having some problems. One cannot get rid of learning disabilities. But, one can always take steps to control the disabilities and find ways to deal with their problems successfully.
