Q.
How are children with learning disabilities treated?
A.
It is extremely important that learning disabilities are diagnosed
early as the brain’s flexibility to learn new skills is greatest
in young children and may diminish somewhat after puberty. Thus,
early intervention is most important (Nevertheless, the ability
to learn remains throughout life ).
Children
with LD and their families require help on several fronts: educational,
medical, emotional and practical.
In
most ways, children with LD are no different from other children.
They require special educational programs either in a separate all
–day classroom or as a special educational class for several
hours a week. If problems are severe, these children may require
a special school for the learning disabled. Special educational
programs begin with systematically identifying what the student
can and cannot do. By using several skills and sense, the child
is taught the activities for e.g. in learning to spell and recognize
words, a student may be asked to see, say, write and spell each
new word. The student may also write the words in sand, which engages
the sense of touch (children are more likely to retain a skill if
more the senses are used).
For
a child with articulation problems, the child may watch the speech
therapist make the sound, feel the vibration in the therapist’s
throat, then practice making the sounds before a mirror.
Non-standard
teaching methods like using computers that talk can help teach children
with language disabilities to process spoken words more quickly.
The computer starts slowly, pronouncing one sound at a time. As
the child gets better at recognizing the sounds and hearing them
as words the sounds are gradually speeded up to a normal rate of
speech.
Medications
like methyl phenidate, dextroamphetamine and pemoline are available,
which are used in children with attention deficit disorders. They
help children control their impulsiveness and other hyperactive
behaviors. These drugs are effective for 3—4 hours and the
child takes the medication so that the drug is active during peak
school hours.
The
effects of LD may not enable a LD child to effectively communicate
socially. Children with LD may have a low self-esteem and consider
themselves :- ‘behind, slow or different’ from other children.
Counseling can be very useful to people with LD and their families.
Counseling can help affected children, teenagers and adults develop
greater self-control and a more positive attitude towards their
own abilities. Family members may also be allowed to air their feelings
as well as get support and reassurance. When children have learning
disabilities, parents may need to work harder at developing their
children’s self-esteem and relationship –building skills
for self-esteem and good relationships are as worth developing as
any academic skills.
Q.
What are other sources of information of learning Disabilities?
A.
Books on Learning Disabilities are as follows:
- Cordoni,
B. "Living with a Learning Disability". Carbondale
IL: Solution Illinois University Press,1987
- Greene,
L. "Learning Disabilities and your child: A survival Handbook."
New York : Fawcett Columbine, 1987
- Novick,
B, and Arnold, M. "Why is my child having trouble in school?"
New York: Villard Books,1991.
Acknowledgement-
National
Institute of Mental Health, U.S.A.
Last
created on 20-01-2001
Last
updated on 18-11-2006
