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Article #5 by Dr Maha Abdullah Orkubi
Learning disabilities are a general term refers to a syndrome and does not describe the specific deficits or dysfunction or the specific academic problem of the individual. Basic learning disabilities are the result of some type of neurological disorder.
“Specific Learning Disability” means a disorder in one or more of basic psychological process involved in using Language: spoken or written, which manifest itself in an imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell, or do mathematical calculations. The term includes conditions such
Dyslexia and Development aphasia.
Individuals with learning disabilities have difficulty learning how to read or do mathematical calculations, compared with others of the same age.
To determine if an individual has Learning disability we experiences a serious discrepancy between his or her intellectual ability and his or her achievements.
A person may not be classified as having learning disability if visual or hearing impairments, mental retardation, motor disabilities, emotional disturbance, or environmental factors cause the learning problem.
Ina in addition, All Children with Learning Disabilities have learning problems. Not all children with Academic Problems have Learning Disabilities
Boys outnumber girls 3:1.
Causes for learning disabilities have biological factors, neurological and hereditary factors. There is environmental factors such as the lack nutritional deprivations, brain damage, and poor teaching.
Individuals with learning disabilities may have Perceptual-Motor Problems such as visual processing deficits, which prevent them from receiving information visually even though they have twenty-twenty vision. These individuals can’t read or write well and they have difficulties in their schools works because teachers give almost all their assignment visually.
Some individuals have auditory processing deficits, which makes it difficult to interpret information coming to them verbally. These individuals’ hearing is good, however they can’t remember instructions given to them verbally, or have difficulties to follow verbal instructions.
Further more, individuals with LD have Memory deficits from visual and auditory processing impacts on their Short-term memory. Therefore information not transferred to their Long-term memory
Some individuals with Attention Deficits ADD and Hyperactivity ADHD: experiences learning difficulties. They are easily distracted, impulsive, and are poor listeners. Therefore, they experience difficulties in their learning.
To identify individuals with learning disabilities they must go through certain evaluation procedures. They should have Assessment
- Intelligence Tests (IQ) Such as WISC-III , Stanford Binet and other tests. However we have to be aware a lot of these tests is not formally adapted to our cultures and only give an estimate of ones Intelligence behaviors.
- Standardized Achievement Tests, which compare the individuals’ performance to a norm or an age/grade, average performance. They are tests that have made specifically to a certain student’s populations.
- Informal Tests which has no particular norms to compare to and it is devised to find the individual’s reading, writing and math’s performance to assess his/her exact abilities.
- Visual and auditory Process evaluation beside the regular vision and hearing tests.
Note: These tests should be done by certified special education Assessment specialists and clinical psychologists. Al-Mahrat center in Jeddah does these kinds testing and evaluation and does rehabilitation.
This disabilities is the hidden disability which is not recognized until individuals start going through formal education (schools). These children and adult walk next to they and us look normal, speak normal and behave normal. Yet they suffer from their disorders once they enter schools.
Even though they are the largest population of special needs, their needs are not met by our schools system. We still call these individuals stupid, lazy, dumb, misfits, and all kinds of derogatory terms when they are suffering from their disorders without their knowledge or awareness. For how long will we as a society neglect them and inflict wound from our inhumane abuse to such individuals. They wounds will carry immense scars on their self esteem which will in turn have tremendous impact on their lives forever. Isn’t about time to do something for our children, brothers and sisters?
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