It can be hard to tell if a preschooler has a learning disability. This is simply because at this age, children tend to learn in very different ways, and at different paces. However, if your child is slow to learn speech, numbers or letters, then you may want to speak to a professional about learning disabilities.
These are disabilities that affect your child’s brain’s ability to process information normally. For instance, your child may understand a story that is read to him or her perfectly, but not be able to answer questions about it later. Trouble assembling puzzles, naming individual letters of the alphabet and even tying shoes can all be signs of a learning disability. It can also be frustrating for your child, which can result in depression, behavioural problems or anger.
It’s important for parents to know, however, that learning disabilities are not linked to low intelligence. On the contrary, the majority of children with learning disabilities are of average or above average intelligence – so there’s nothing to be ashamed of!
There are some learning disabilities – like dyslexia, or dyscalculia, that are relatively easy to pick up – however, there are many other disorders relating to speech and language, numbers, reading, memory and more. Here are a few signs to look out for in children who are under five:
Being late to start talking, and when your child does, having trouble pronouncing words
Trouble learning new words, and learning to read
Difficulty learning the alphabet, or numbers
Inability to grasp a pen or crayon correctly
Problems following instructions or directions, and a short attention span
Your child’s teacher will probably be the first one to pick up on any learning disability. From there, you should speak to your child’s doctor, who will probably refer you to a specialist for a proper diagnosis of the exact nature of the learning disability your child has. This is usually done by a neurodevelopmental paediatrician, a child psychologist or another professional, and usually involves several games, played over the course of several hours.
It’s also worth noting that developmental problems at this age are sometimes simply a lag in development, and not a learning disability at all. You may even be advised to wait and see, unless the problem is very pronounced.
Once your child is diagnosed with a learning disability, it’s important to note that it won’t go away. Your child will need to have lots of support, and special education strategies to cope. However, many of these children are extremely intelligent, and can excel, even academically.
To encourage your child to keep trying, plan plenty of activities that he or she can excel at, and make sure that you heap praise on him or her for any successes. Find out about special programs in your area for children with learning disabilities, and if you feel that your child needs a little extra help, why not look into counselling or therapy?
Children with learning disabilities often feel that they have failed in some way, and your child may need support to realise that he or she is still talented and special.
You may even find that you need therapy or a support group yourself – it’s not easy being a parent with a child with learning disabilities, but you can both achieve great things with the right help.
